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Proto LabsWBO:PRLB +1.50%61 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 4.20 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates WBO:PRLB with a GF Score™ of 61/100 and a GF Value™ of €40.83 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,854 Industrial Products companies, Proto Labs ranks better than 98.54% on this metric.
Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. Proto Labs's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 4.20%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Proto Labs's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
WBO:PRLB'
s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.7 Med: -0.8 Max: 4.2
Current: 4.2
During the past 13 years, Proto Labs's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 4.20%. The lowest was -3.70%. And the median was -0.80%.
WBO:PRLB's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than 98.54% of 1854
companies
in the Industrial Products industry
Industry Median: -1.1
vs WBO:PRLB: 4.20
Proto Labs (WBO:PRLB) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation
A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.
Be Aware
Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.
Proto Labs 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms
WBO:PRLB vs RYZ, WOR, MEC: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison
For the Metal Fabrication subindustry, Proto Labs's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio 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.
Proto Labs 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Industrial Products Industry
For the Industrial Products industry and Industrials sector, Proto Labs's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Proto Labs's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.
This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 4.20 mean?
Proto Labs (WBO:PRLB) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 4.20 as of Mar. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Proto Labs and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Proto Labs ranks #27 out of 1854 companies in the Industrial Products industry, placing it in the top 1.5%.
Is Proto Labs' 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
Proto Labs' current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 4.20. Based on the distribution chart, Proto Labs ranks #27 out of 1854 companies in the Industrial Products industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Proto Labs has a GF Score™ of 61/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Proto Labs' 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to RYZ and WOR?
According to the Industrial Products industry distribution chart, Proto Labs ranks #27 out of 1854 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places Proto Labs in the top 2% 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for an Industrial Products company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Industrial Products industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Proto Labs and its competitors. Proto Labs's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 4.20. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Proto Labs stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Proto Labs (WBO:PRLB) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €40.83, compared to a current price of €78.00 — trading 91% above its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 4.20. Proto Labs' overall GF Score™ is 61/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Proto Labs (WBO:PRLB), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 4.20 as of Mar. 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 Proto Labs (WBO:PRLB) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Proto Labs stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €78.00 is trading 91% above its estimated GF Value™ of €40.83.
GuruFocus considers Proto Labs to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for WBO:PRLB:
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 4.20
GF Value™: €40.83 vs. price of €78.00 (91% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the WBO:PRLB stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Proto Labs Inc is an on-demand manufacturer of custom parts for prototyping and short-run production. The company offers developers and engineers quick-turn production services to reduce the time to market. The Lab uses injection molding, computer numerical control machining, and 3-D printing, and sheet metal to manufacture custom parts for its clients. The company services clients' needs for prototype solutions, parts for testing procedures, bridge production capabilities during disruptions in manufacturing processes, limited-quantity requests, and end-of-life production support. Geographically, a majority of the company's revenue is derived from the United States and the rest from Europe.
61GF Score
Get the complete analysis for WBO:PRLB
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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