PRLB vs XMTR

For growth investors, Xometry, Inc.

(XMTR) is the stronger pick with 25. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB). Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) offers the better valuation at 78. 3x trailing P/E (38. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Xometry, Inc. (XMTR) a "Buy" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Proto Labs, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 38. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Proto Labs, Inc.

(PRLB) delivered a total return of -32. 0%, compared to -35. 5% for Xometry, Inc. (XMTR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PRLB returned +15. 2% versus XMTR's -35. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Proto Labs, Inc.

(PRLB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 84β versus Xometry, Inc. 's 1. 94β — meaning XMTR is approximately 5% more volatile than PRLB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 126% for Xometry, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Xometry, Inc.

(XMTR) is pulling ahead at 25. 9% versus 6. 4% for Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Proto Labs, Inc. grew EPS 33. 3% year-over-year, compared to -18. 4% for Xometry, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, XMTR leads at 21. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Proto Labs, Inc.

(PRLB) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 0% net margin versus -9. 0% for Xometry, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PRLB leads at 4. 9% versus -6. 6% for XMTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PRLB leads at 44. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Proto Labs, Inc.

(PRLB) trades at 38. 0x forward P/E versus 84. 0x for Xometry, Inc. — 46. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XMTR: 14. 1% to $64. 33.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Proto Labs, Inc.

(PRLB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Xometry, Inc. (XMTR) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PRLB: +15. 2%, XMTR: -35. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: PRLB is a small-cap quality compounder stock; XMTR is a small-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.