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Proto Labs (PRLB) Competitors

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$96.18 +3.22 (+3.46%)
Closing price 09/25/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$96.24 +0.05 (+0.05%)
As of 09/25/2026 07:49 PM Eastern
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PRLB vs. TKR, MSA, ESE, GTES, and NPO

Should you buy Proto Labs stock or one of its competitors? Proto Labs's main competitors and comparable companies include Timken (TKR), MSA Safety Incorporporated (MSA), ESCO Technologies (ESE), Gates Industrial (GTES), and Enpro (NPO). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "industrial machinery & supplies & components" industry.

How does Proto Labs compare to Timken?

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) and Timken (NYSE:TKR) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, media sentiment, risk and dividends.

In the previous week, Proto Labs had 9 more articles in the media than Timken. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Proto Labs and 2 mentions for Timken. Timken's average media sentiment score of 0.62 beat Proto Labs' score of 0.06 indicating that Timken is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Proto Labs
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
7 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Timken
0 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Proto Labs has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its share price is 42% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Timken has a beta of 1.21, indicating that its share price is 21% more volatile than the broader market.

84.5% of Proto Labs shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 89.1% of Timken shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 8.1% of Timken shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Proto Labs currently has a consensus price target of $89.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.47%. Timken has a consensus price target of $145.50, suggesting a potential upside of 23.88%. Given Timken's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Timken is more favorable than Proto Labs.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Proto Labs
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.25
Timken
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
7 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.70

Proto Labs has a net margin of 5.44% compared to Timken's net margin of 5.43%. Timken's return on equity of 12.63% beat Proto Labs' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Proto Labs5.44% 4.80% 4.22%
Timken 5.43%12.63%6.21%

Timken has higher revenue and earnings than Proto Labs. Timken is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Proto Labs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Proto Labs$560.54M4.10$21.24M$1.2576.95
Timken$4.58B1.78$288.40M$3.6931.83

Summary

Timken beats Proto Labs on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Proto Labs compare to MSA Safety Incorporporated?

MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA) and Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, risk, dividends, earnings, media sentiment, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

MSA Safety Incorporporated has a net margin of 16.13% compared to Proto Labs' net margin of 5.44%. MSA Safety Incorporporated's return on equity of 25.13% beat Proto Labs' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
MSA Safety Incorporporated16.13% 25.13% 13.24%
Proto Labs 5.44%4.80%4.22%

92.5% of MSA Safety Incorporporated shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 84.5% of Proto Labs shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of MSA Safety Incorporporated shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, Proto Labs had 4 more articles in the media than MSA Safety Incorporporated. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Proto Labs and 7 mentions for MSA Safety Incorporporated. MSA Safety Incorporporated's average media sentiment score of 1.13 beat Proto Labs' score of 0.06 indicating that MSA Safety Incorporporated is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
MSA Safety Incorporporated
5 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Proto Labs
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
7 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

MSA Safety Incorporporated has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Proto Labs has a beta of 1.42, suggesting that its stock price is 42% more volatile than the broader market.

MSA Safety Incorporporated has higher revenue and earnings than Proto Labs. MSA Safety Incorporporated is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Proto Labs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
MSA Safety Incorporporated$1.87B3.76$278.92M$8.0422.70
Proto Labs$560.54M4.10$21.24M$1.2576.95

MSA Safety Incorporporated currently has a consensus target price of $211.33, suggesting a potential upside of 15.81%. Proto Labs has a consensus target price of $89.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.47%. Given MSA Safety Incorporporated's higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe MSA Safety Incorporporated is more favorable than Proto Labs.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
MSA Safety Incorporporated
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33
Proto Labs
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.25

Summary

MSA Safety Incorporporated beats Proto Labs on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Proto Labs compare to ESCO Technologies?

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) and ESCO Technologies (NYSE:ESE) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, media sentiment, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends and analyst recommendations.

ESCO Technologies has a net margin of 24.39% compared to Proto Labs' net margin of 5.44%. ESCO Technologies' return on equity of 13.28% beat Proto Labs' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Proto Labs5.44% 4.80% 4.22%
ESCO Technologies 24.39%13.28%8.69%

Proto Labs presently has a consensus target price of $89.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.47%. ESCO Technologies has a consensus target price of $416.50, suggesting a potential upside of 55.38%. Given ESCO Technologies' higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe ESCO Technologies is more favorable than Proto Labs.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Proto Labs
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.25
ESCO Technologies
0 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.00

In the previous week, Proto Labs had 7 more articles in the media than ESCO Technologies. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Proto Labs and 4 mentions for ESCO Technologies. ESCO Technologies' average media sentiment score of 0.56 beat Proto Labs' score of 0.06 indicating that ESCO Technologies is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Proto Labs
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
7 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
ESCO Technologies
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

ESCO Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Proto Labs. ESCO Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Proto Labs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Proto Labs$560.54M4.10$21.24M$1.2576.95
ESCO Technologies$1.29B5.38$299.22M$12.1422.08

Proto Labs has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its stock price is 42% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, ESCO Technologies has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the broader market.

84.5% of Proto Labs shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 95.7% of ESCO Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of ESCO Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

ESCO Technologies beats Proto Labs on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Proto Labs compare to Gates Industrial?

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) and Gates Industrial (NYSE:GTES) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, media sentiment, analyst recommendations and profitability.

In the previous week, Proto Labs had 8 more articles in the media than Gates Industrial. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Proto Labs and 3 mentions for Gates Industrial. Gates Industrial's average media sentiment score of 0.28 beat Proto Labs' score of 0.06 indicating that Gates Industrial is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Proto Labs
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
7 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Gates Industrial
0 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

84.5% of Proto Labs shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.5% of Gates Industrial shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.8% of Gates Industrial shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Proto Labs has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its share price is 42% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Gates Industrial has a beta of 1.26, indicating that its share price is 26% more volatile than the broader market.

Gates Industrial has higher revenue and earnings than Proto Labs. Gates Industrial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Proto Labs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Proto Labs$560.54M4.10$21.24M$1.2576.95
Gates Industrial$3.44B1.97$251.40M$1.4119.04

Proto Labs currently has a consensus price target of $89.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.47%. Gates Industrial has a consensus price target of $32.45, suggesting a potential upside of 20.91%. Given Gates Industrial's higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Gates Industrial is more favorable than Proto Labs.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Proto Labs
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.25
Gates Industrial
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
9 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.69

Gates Industrial has a net margin of 10.37% compared to Proto Labs' net margin of 5.44%. Gates Industrial's return on equity of 10.11% beat Proto Labs' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Proto Labs5.44% 4.80% 4.22%
Gates Industrial 10.37%10.11%5.27%

Summary

Gates Industrial beats Proto Labs on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Proto Labs compare to Enpro?

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) and Enpro (NYSE:NPO) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, valuation, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and media sentiment.

Proto Labs presently has a consensus target price of $89.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.47%. Enpro has a consensus target price of $358.33, suggesting a potential upside of 14.86%. Given Enpro's higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Enpro is more favorable than Proto Labs.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Proto Labs
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.25
Enpro
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.60

Enpro has higher revenue and earnings than Proto Labs. Proto Labs is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Enpro, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Proto Labs$560.54M4.10$21.24M$1.2576.95
Enpro$1.14B5.78$40.50M$2.05152.18

Proto Labs has a beta of 1.42, suggesting that its stock price is 42% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Enpro has a beta of 1.55, suggesting that its stock price is 55% more volatile than the broader market.

Proto Labs has a net margin of 5.44% compared to Enpro's net margin of 3.60%. Enpro's return on equity of 11.83% beat Proto Labs' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Proto Labs5.44% 4.80% 4.22%
Enpro 3.60%11.83%7.10%

In the previous week, Proto Labs had 9 more articles in the media than Enpro. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Proto Labs and 2 mentions for Enpro. Enpro's average media sentiment score of 0.90 beat Proto Labs' score of 0.06 indicating that Enpro is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Proto Labs
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
7 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Enpro
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

84.5% of Proto Labs shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.3% of Enpro shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.6% of Enpro shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Enpro beats Proto Labs on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding PRLB and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NYSE and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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PRLB vs. The Competition

MetricProto LabsMachinery IndustryIndustrials SectorNYSE Exchange
Market Cap$2.30B$11.27B$10.23B$23.01B
Dividend YieldN/A2.28%96.84%3.68%
P/E Ratio76.9520.8325.3227.98
Price / Sales4.1062.64279.0321.85
Price / Cash41.4023.1623.9619.25
Price / Book3.384.294.874.69
Net Income$21.24M$380.78M$616.59M$1.07B
7 Day Performance9.96%0.58%0.76%-1.12%
1 Month Performance19.94%-3.36%-2.77%-5.10%
1 Year Performance90.85%6.80%4.25%7.73%

Proto Labs Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
PRLB
Proto Labs
2.2871 of 5 stars
$96.19
+3.5%
$89.00
-7.5%
+90.9%$2.30B$560.54M76.952,280
TKR
Timken
4.7075 of 5 stars
$114.74
-2.0%
$145.50
+26.8%
+55.5%$8.12B$4.58B31.0919,000
MSA
MSA Safety Incorporporated
4.6875 of 5 stars
$177.73
-1.1%
$211.33
+18.9%
+6.8%$6.93B$1.87B22.115,300
ESE
ESCO Technologies
4.2931 of 5 stars
$261.37
-1.7%
$416.50
+59.4%
+31.4%$6.89B$1.29B21.533,425
GTES
Gates Industrial
3.8117 of 5 stars
$25.50
-0.4%
$32.45
+27.3%
+7.9%$6.48B$3.44B18.0913,000

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This page (NYSE:PRLB) was last updated on 9/27/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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