Insteel Industries [IIIN] vs Proto Labs [PRLB] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Insteel Industries Inc. wins in 12 metrics, Proto Labs Inc. wins in 8 metrics, with 0 ties. Insteel Industries Inc. appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Insteel Industries Inc. | Proto Labs Inc. | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.39 | 73.31 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 1.34 | 2.26 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 0.83 | 0.45 | Proto Labs Inc. |
| PEG Ratio | -0.23 | -0.05 | Proto Labs Inc. |
| EV/EBITDA | 6.37 | 23.34 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 6.16% | 3.98% | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.93% | 5.67% | Proto Labs Inc. |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 3.93% | 5.67% | Proto Labs Inc. |
| Return on Equity | 12.05% | 3.16% | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 7.81% | 2.17% | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $18.95M | $59.66M | Proto Labs Inc. |
| Dividend Yield | 3.55% | N/A | N/A |
| 1-Year Return | -21.50% | 104.87% | Proto Labs Inc. |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.70 | 2.88 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Enterprise Value | $468.15M | $1.41B | Proto Labs Inc. |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 0.68 | 2.64 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 9.55% | 44.23% | Proto Labs Inc. |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $35 | $22 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $2.17 | $0.88 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.82 | 1.31 | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Short % of Float | 2.82% | 3.65% | Insteel Industries Inc. |
Insteel Industries Inc. vs Proto Labs Inc. Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insteel Industries Inc. | 0.32% | 1.91% | 9.76% | -21.18% | -10.12% | -12.87% |
| Proto Labs Inc. | -4.58% | 0.38% | 16.06% | 20.51% | 45.90% | 45.41% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insteel Industries Inc. | -21.50% | -12.59% | -17.79% | -0.40% | 119.92% | 25.58% |
| Proto Labs Inc. | 104.87% | 129.71% | -14.27% | 12.34% | 161.24% | 161.24% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Insteel Industries Inc. vs Proto Labs Inc.
| Metric | IIIN | PRLB |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $499.82M | $1.53B |
| Market Cap Category | Small cap | Small cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 368,582 | 147,190 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 243,137 | 164,473 |
| Last Close | $28.24 | $74.67 |
| 52 Week Range | $24.35 - $41.64 | $36.59 - $78.44 |
| % from 52W High | -32.18% | -4.81% |
| All-Time High | $47.70 (May 02, 2022) | $286.57 (Jan 25, 2021) |
| % from All-Time High | -40.80% | -73.94% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | 0.08% | 0.12% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.49% | 0.12% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.06% | 0.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.12% | 0.03% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 0.83 | 0.45 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $18.50 | $28.52 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $0.78 | $5.39 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $15.87M | $74.50M |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-2,406,500 | $51.64M |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.55% | N/A |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.12 | N/A |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Insteel Industries Inc. vs Proto Labs Inc.
| Metric | IIIN (Apr 24, 2026) | PRLB (Apr 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.39 | 73.31 |
| Forward P/E | 10.70 | 32.54 |
| PEG Ratio | -0.23 | -0.05 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 0.70 | 2.88 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 1.34 | 2.26 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $499.82M | $1.53B |
| Enterprise Value | $468.15M | $1.41B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 0.68 | 2.64 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 6.37 | 23.34 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.82 | 1.31 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $18.50 | $28.52 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Insteel Industries Inc. vs Proto Labs Inc.
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | IIIN (2025) | PRLB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 647.71M | 533.13M |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 554.27M | 295.99M |
| COGS % of Revenue | 85.6% | 55.5% |
| Gross Profit | 93.44M | 237.14M |
| Gross Margin | 14.4% | 44.5% |
| Research & Development | N/A | 42.81M |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 54.44M | 26.20M |
| Operating Margin | 8.4% | 4.9% |
| EBITDA | 74.88M | 61.11M |
| EBITDA Margin | 11.6% | 11.5% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 53.81M | 31.06M |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 8.3% | 5.8% |
| Income Tax | 12.79M | 9.82M |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 41.02M | 21.24M |
| Profit Margin | 6.3% | 4.0% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | IIIN (2025) | PRLB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 38.63M | 110.83M |
| Total Current Assets | 261.95M | 233.54M |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 40.4% | 43.8% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 66.01M | 67.00M |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 10.2% | 12.6% |
| Long-Term Debt | 2.05M | 1.61M |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 371.53M | 673.93M |
| Retained Earnings | 262.75M | 240.76M |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 40.6% | 45.2% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 3.94M | 3.26M |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | IIIN (2025) | PRLB (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 6.78M | 59.08M |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 1.0% | 11.1% |
| Capital Expenditures | 107,000 | -14.01M |
| Free Cash Flow | 18.95M | 59.66M |
| FCF Margin | 2.9% | 11.2% |
| Debt Repayment | -291,000 | -309,000 |
| Common Stock Repurchase | -2.27M | -46.40M |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | IIIN | PRLB |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 431,205 | 630,613 |
| Short Ratio | 2.50 | 3.79 |
| Short % of Float | 2.82% | 3.65% |
| Shares Outstanding | 19.43M | 23.63M |
| Float Shares | 18.50M | 23.49M |
| % Held by Insiders | 5.05% | 1.31% |
| % Held by Institutions | 84.37% | 93.13% |
| % Held by Public | 10.58% | 5.56% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Insteel Industries Inc. vs Proto Labs Inc.
| Metric | IIIN | PRLB |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.12 | N/A |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.55% | N/A |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $1.60 | N/A |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 1.23% | N/A |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $4.80 | N/A |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Mar 13, 2026 | N/A |