PRLB vs. VRTX
PRLB (Proto Labs, Inc.) and VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated) are both stocks. PRLB operates in Metal Fabrication (Industrials), while VRTX operates in Biotechnology (Healthcare). Over the past 10 years, PRLB returned 1.02%/yr vs 16.38%/yr for VRTX. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PRLB vs. VRTX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PRLB achieves a 47.60% return, which is significantly higher than VRTX's -5.52% return. Over the past 10 years, PRLB has underperformed VRTX with an annualized return of 1.02%, while VRTX has yielded a comparatively higher 16.38% annualized return.
PRLB
- 1D
- -4.58%
- 1M
- 16.06%
- YTD
- 47.60%
- 6M
- 45.90%
- 1Y
- 98.80%
- 3Y*
- 31.31%
- 5Y*
- -3.31%
- 10Y*
- 1.02%
VRTX
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- -0.35%
- YTD
- -5.52%
- 6M
- -7.51%
- 1Y
- -4.06%
- 3Y*
- 8.67%
- 5Y*
- 15.33%
- 10Y*
- 16.38%
PRLB vs. VRTX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRLB Proto Labs, Inc. | 47.60% | 29.42% | 0.33% | 52.60% | -50.28% | -66.53% | 51.06% | -9.97% | 9.50% | 100.58% |
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | -5.52% | 12.58% | -1.03% | 40.90% | 31.50% | -7.08% | 7.94% | 32.13% | 10.58% | 103.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between PRLB and VRTX is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 27, 2012 | 0.26 |
Fundamentals
PRLB:
$1.81B
VRTX:
$109.78B
PRLB:
$1.06
VRTX:
$16.87
PRLB:
70.27
VRTX:
25.40
PRLB:
3.31
VRTX:
8.99
PRLB:
2.65
VRTX:
4.15
PRLB:
$546.26M
VRTX:
$12.26B
PRLB:
$245.03M
VRTX:
$10.57B
PRLB:
$60.04M
VRTX:
$5.19B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PRLB vs. VRTX — Risk / Return Rank
PRLB
VRTX
PRLB vs. VRTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX). 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.
| PRLB | VRTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.42 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.44 | 1.01 | +0.43 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.09 | -0.17 | +5.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.93 | -0.37 | +15.30 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PRLB | VRTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.22 | -0.12 | +2.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.07 | 0.53 | -0.60 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 | 0.50 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.15 | 0.25 | -0.11 |
Drawdowns
PRLB vs. VRTX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PRLB drawdown since its inception was -91.22%, roughly equal to the maximum VRTX drawdown of -91.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PRLB and VRTX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PRLB | VRTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -91.22% | -91.77% | +0.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.51% | -23.56% | +4.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -35.14% | -29.07% | -6.07% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -77.19% | -29.07% | -48.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -91.22% | -41.60% | -49.62% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -70.31% | -17.11% | -53.20% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -43.22% | -37.70% | -5.52% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.64% | 11.14% | -4.50% |
Volatility
PRLB vs. VRTX - Volatility Comparison
Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) has a higher volatility of 10.09% compared to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) at 7.03%. This indicates that PRLB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VRTX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PRLB | VRTX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.09% | 7.03% | +3.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 33.26% | 21.69% | +11.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 44.85% | 33.88% | +10.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 50.45% | 28.90% | +21.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 47.93% | 32.82% | +15.11% |
Dividends
PRLB vs. VRTX - Dividend Comparison
Neither PRLB nor VRTX has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
PRLB vs. VRTX - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Proto Labs, Inc. and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. 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
PRLB vs. VRTX - Profitability Comparison
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%.
VRTX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a gross profit of 2.59B and revenue of 2.99B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 86.9%.
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%.
VRTX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported an operating income of 1.14B and revenue of 2.99B, resulting in an operating margin of 38.1%.
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%.
VRTX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a net income of 1.03B and revenue of 2.99B, resulting in a net margin of 34.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PRLB and VRTX have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PRLB has higher volatility (10.09%) compared to VRTX (7.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PRLB dropped -91.22% vs VRTX's -91.77%.
PRLB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs -0.12), 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.
Find the right allocation for PRLB and VRTX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer