American Superconductor (AMSC) vs Proto Labs (PRLB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Proto Labs (PRLB) has outperformed American Superconductor (AMSC) over the past year, gaining 87.3% versus a loss of 43.9%. Over five years, AMSC leads with a +89.5% price change compared with +31.7% for PRLB. Proto Labs is the larger company by market cap ($2.23 billion vs $1.54 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, American Superconductor trades at a lower forward P/E (23.4x vs 39.1x for Proto Labs).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AMSC | PRLB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.74 | $93.27 |
| Market cap | $1.54B | $2.23B |
| 1-day change | -0.35% | -4.12% |
| YTD return | +10.28% | +84.36% |
| 1-year return | -43.87% | +87.25% |
| 5-year return | +89.49% | +31.70% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.69 | 74.02 |
| Forward P/E | 23.42 | 39.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.97 | $1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $70.49 | $99.96 |
| 52-week low | $24.87 | $45.10 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -54.97% | -6.69% |
| Analyst consensus | — | none |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +2.39% |
| Average volume | 707.70K | 210.70K |
| Shares outstanding | 48.44M | 23.92M |
| Employees | — | 2,280 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | Metal Fabrications |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PRLB has outperformed AMSC by 131.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Proto Labs trades at a higher earnings multiple (74.0x vs 10.7x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: American Superconductor in Consumer Discretionary and Proto Labs in Industrials.
About Proto Labs
PRLB stock →Proto Labs, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital manufacturer of custom parts in the United States and Europe. It offers manufacturing services, such as molding, computer numerical control machining, 3D printing, and sheet metal to developers, engineers, and supply chain teams.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 2,280 employees
AMSC vs PRLB FAQ
Which is bigger, American Superconductor or Proto Labs?
Proto Labs (PRLB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.23B compared with $1.54B for American Superconductor (AMSC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AMSC or PRLB?
PRLB returned +87.25% over the past 12 months, compared with -43.87% for AMSC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AMSC or PRLB?
AMSC has the lower trailing P/E at 10.7, versus 74.0 for PRLB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are American Superconductor and Proto Labs in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Metal Fabrications industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.