IIIN vs. PRLB
IIIN (Insteel Industries, Inc.) and PRLB (Proto Labs, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Metal Fabrication industry within the Industrials sector. Over the past 10 years, IIIN returned 4.71%/yr vs 3.79%/yr for PRLB. At a 0.37 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IIIN vs. PRLB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IIIN achieves a -6.54% return, which is significantly lower than PRLB's 61.45% return. Over the past 10 years, IIIN has outperformed PRLB with an annualized return of 4.71%, while PRLB has yielded a comparatively lower 3.79% annualized return.
IIIN
- 1D
- 1.55%
- 1M
- 11.25%
- YTD
- -6.54%
- 6M
- -6.57%
- 1Y
- -12.55%
- 3Y*
- 4.38%
- 5Y*
- 4.41%
- 10Y*
- 4.71%
PRLB
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- 14.46%
- YTD
- 61.45%
- 6M
- 54.03%
- 1Y
- 114.72%
- 3Y*
- 34.82%
- 5Y*
- -2.35%
- 10Y*
- 3.79%
IIIN vs. PRLB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IIIN Insteel Industries, Inc. | -6.54% | 21.53% | -26.77% | 50.01% | -25.64% | 88.28% | 10.88% | -10.98% | -13.93% | -20.22% |
PRLB Proto Labs, Inc. | 61.45% | 29.42% | 0.33% | 52.60% | -50.28% | -66.53% | 51.06% | -9.97% | 9.50% | 100.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between IIIN and PRLB is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 24, 2012 | 0.37 |
The correlation between IIIN and PRLB shifts across timeframes, from 0.37 (all time) to 0.50 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
IIIN:
$577.98M
PRLB:
$1.98B
IIIN:
$2.17
PRLB:
$1.06
IIIN:
13.59
PRLB:
76.86
IIIN:
0.84
PRLB:
3.62
IIIN:
1.59
PRLB:
2.90
IIIN:
$689.91M
PRLB:
$546.26M
IIIN:
$93.93M
PRLB:
$245.03M
IIIN:
$69.41M
PRLB:
$60.04M
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Return for Risk
IIIN vs. PRLB — Risk / Return Rank
IIIN
PRLB
IIIN vs. PRLB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) and Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IIIN | PRLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.85 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.94 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.98 | 1.48 | -0.50 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.35 | 5.92 | -6.26 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.74 | 17.29 | -18.03 |
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Drawdowns
IIIN vs. PRLB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IIIN drawdown since its inception was -96.63%, which is greater than PRLB's maximum drawdown of -91.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IIIN and PRLB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IIIN | PRLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -96.63% | -91.22% | -5.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -36.11% | -19.51% | -16.60% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -36.98% | -34.57% | -2.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -47.32% | -77.19% | +29.87% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -74.37% | -91.22% | +16.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.82% | -67.52% | +44.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -38.76% | -43.30% | +4.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.95% | 6.66% | +10.29% |
Volatility
IIIN vs. PRLB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Insteel Industries, Inc. (IIIN) is 7.15%, while Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) has a volatility of 11.26%. This indicates that IIIN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PRLB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IIIN | PRLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.15% | 11.26% | -4.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 35.52% | 34.00% | +1.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 42.99% | 45.27% | -2.28% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 39.47% | 50.57% | -11.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 43.85% | 47.99% | -4.14% |
Dividends
IIIN vs. PRLB - Dividend Comparison
IIIN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.79%, while PRLB has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IIIN Insteel Industries, Inc. | 3.79% | 3.54% | 4.15% | 6.84% | 7.70% | 5.33% | 7.27% | 0.56% | 0.49% | 0.42% | 3.84% | 5.35% |
PRLB Proto Labs, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
IIIN vs. PRLB - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Insteel Industries, Inc. and Proto Labs, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
IIIN vs. PRLB - Profitability Comparison
IIIN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Insteel Industries, Inc. reported a gross profit of 16.49M and revenue of 172.65M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 9.6%.
PRLB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported a gross profit of 63.59M and revenue of 139.34M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 45.6%.
IIIN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Insteel Industries, Inc. reported an operating income of 6.74M and revenue of 172.65M, resulting in an operating margin of 3.9%.
PRLB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported an operating income of 9.84M and revenue of 139.34M, resulting in an operating margin of 7.1%.
IIIN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Insteel Industries, Inc. reported a net income of 5.22M and revenue of 172.65M, resulting in a net margin of 3.0%.
PRLB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported a net income of 8.11M and revenue of 139.34M, resulting in a net margin of 5.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
IIIN and PRLB have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PRLB has higher volatility (11.26%) compared to IIIN (7.15%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IIIN dropped -96.63% vs PRLB's -91.22%.
PRLB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.55 vs -0.29), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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