PLAB (Photronics) Moat Score: 4/10 (As of Jun. 27, 2026)


PLAB Photronics Inc PLAB
92 GF Score
Price $30.58
GF Value $25.61
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 2 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Photronics Moat Score?

Photronics PLAB -6.58% 92 Moat Score is 4 as of Jun. 27, 2026. GuruFocus rates PLAB with a GF Score™ of 92/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.61 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,002 Semiconductors companies, Photronics ranks better than 89.32% on this metric.

Photronics has the Moat Score of 4, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Photronics has Narrow Moat: Photronics Inc has a discernible but modest moat due to its specialized photomask technology and some customer switching costs. However, the semiconductor industry is highly competitive, and the company lacks significant market leadership.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Photronics might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Photronics  (NAS:PLAB) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Photronics Moat Score Related Terms

PLAB vs COHU, ICHR, DQ: Moat Score Comparison

For the Semiconductor Equipment & Materials subindustry, Photronics's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Photronics Moat Score vs Semiconductors Industry

For the Semiconductors industry and Technology sector, Photronics's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Photronics's Moat Score falls into.


PLAB
92GF Score
Photronics Inc PLAB
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 4 mean?
Photronics (PLAB) has a Moat Score of 4 as of Jun. 27, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Photronics ranks #107 out of 1002 companies in the Semiconductors industry, placing it in the top 10.7%.
Is Photronics' Moat Score too high?
Photronics' current Moat Score is 4. Based on the distribution chart, Photronics ranks #107 out of 1002 companies in the Semiconductors industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Photronics has a GF Score™ of 92/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Photronics' Moat Score compare to COHU and ICHR?
According to the Semiconductors industry distribution chart, Photronics ranks #107 out of 1002 companies for Moat Score. This places Photronics in the top 11% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Semiconductors company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Semiconductors industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Photronics's current Moat Score is 4. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Photronics stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Photronics (PLAB) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $25.61, compared to a current price of $30.58 — trading 19.4% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 4. Photronics' overall GF Score™ is 92/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Photronics (PLAB), the current Moat Score is 4 as of Jun. 27, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Photronics (PLAB) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Photronics stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $30.58 is trading 19.4% above its estimated GF Value™ of $25.61. GuruFocus considers Photronics to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for PLAB:

  • Moat Score: 4
  • GF Value™: $25.61 vs. price of $30.58 (19.4% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 92/100 with 2 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the PLAB stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Photronics Business Description

Other Exchanges PQ2:Germany
Address 15 Secor Road, Brookfield, CT, USA, 06804
Photronics Inc is a U.S.-based company principally engaged in the manufacturing of photomasks, which are high-precision photographic quartz or glass plates containing microscopic images of electronic circuits. Photomasks are a key element in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs) and flat-panel displays (FPDs) and are used as masters to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and FPD substrates during fabrication, as well as to a lesser extent, other types of electrical and optical components. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, China, South Korea, the United States, and Europe, and generates revenue globally, with Taiwan contributing the majority of total revenue.
92GF Score

Get the complete analysis for PLAB

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$30.58
Price
$25.61
GF Value