PRLB vs. VRTX

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX).

Performance

PRLB vs. VRTX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PRLB vs. VRTX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PRLB Proto Labs, Inc.	12.71%	29.42%	0.33%	52.60%	-50.28%	-66.53%	51.06%	-9.97%	9.50%	100.58%
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated	-1.50%	12.58%	-1.03%	40.90%	31.50%	-7.08%	7.94%	32.13%	10.58%	103.42%

Fundamentals

Market Cap PRLB : $1.38B VRTX : $114.36B
EPS PRLB : $0.88 VRTX : $15.35
PE Ratio PRLB : 65.01 VRTX : 29.09
PS Ratio PRLB : 2.59 VRTX : 9.58
PB Ratio PRLB : 1.81 VRTX : 6.13
Total Revenue (TTM) PRLB : $533.13M VRTX : $12.00B
Gross Profit (TTM) PRLB : $237.14M VRTX : $10.35B
EBITDA (TTM) PRLB : $55.40M VRTX : $4.74B

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PRLB achieves a 12.71% return, which is significantly higher than VRTX's -1.50% return. Over the past 10 years, PRLB has underperformed VRTX with an annualized return of -3.06%, while VRTX has yielded a comparatively higher 18.89% annualized return.

PRLB

• 1D: 2.96%
• 1M: -8.15%
• YTD: 12.71%
• 6M: 13.97%
• 1Y: 62.73%
• 3Y*: 19.82%
• 5Y*: -13.83%
• 10Y*: -3.06%

VRTX

• 1D: 0.76%
• 1M: -10.12%
• YTD: -1.50%
• 6M: 14.02%
• 1Y: -7.90%
• 3Y*: 12.33%
• 5Y*: 15.95%
• 10Y*: 18.89%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Return for Risk

PRLB vs. VRTX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PRLB

PRLB Risk / Return Rank: 84
PRLB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
PRLB Sortino Ratio Rank: 84
PRLB Omega Ratio Rank: 81
PRLB Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
PRLB Martin Ratio Rank: 86

VRTX

VRTX Risk / Return Rank: 31
VRTX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 32
VRTX Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
VRTX Omega Ratio Rank: 29
VRTX Calmar Ratio Rank: 32
VRTX Martin Ratio Rank: 31

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

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 ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.31	-0.22	+1.53
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.36	-0.05	+2.42
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	0.99	+0.30
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.05	-0.33	+3.38
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	8.46	-0.65	+9.11
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PRLB vs. VRTX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PRLB Sharpe Ratio is 1.31, which is higher than the VRTX Sharpe Ratio of -0.22. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PRLB and VRTX, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PRLB	VRTX	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.31	-0.22	+1.53
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.27	0.56	-0.83
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	-0.06	0.57	-0.63
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.10	0.26	-0.15

Correlation

The correlation between PRLB and VRTX is 0.26, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

PRLB vs. VRTX - Dividend Comparison

Neither PRLB nor VRTX has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

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.

Drawdown Indicators

	PRLB	VRTX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-91.22%	-91.77%	+0.55%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.51%	-28.06%	+8.55%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-81.61%	-29.07%	-52.54%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-91.22%	-41.60%	-49.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-77.33%	-13.59%	-63.74%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-42.85%	-37.81%	-5.04%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.03%	14.33%	-7.30%

Volatility

PRLB vs. VRTX - Volatility Comparison

Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB) has a higher volatility of 12.72% compared to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) at 11.93%. 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.

Volatility by Period

	PRLB	VRTX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	12.72%	11.93%	+0.79%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	36.53%	21.67%	+14.86%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	48.10%	35.83%	+12.27%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	50.75%	28.77%	+21.98%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	48.35%	33.24%	+15.11%

Financials

PRLB vs. VRTX - Profitability Comparison

The chart below illustrates the profitability comparison between Proto Labs, Inc. and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated over time, highlighting three key metrics: Gross Profit Margin, Operating Margin, and Net Profit Margin.

PRLB - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported a gross profit of 60.37M and revenue of 136.49M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.2%.

VRTX - Gross Margin

Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a gross profit of 2.72B and revenue of 3.19B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 85.4%.

PRLB - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported an operating income of 6.80M and revenue of 136.49M, resulting in an operating margin of 5.0%.

VRTX - Operating Margin

Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported an operating income of 1.26B and revenue of 3.19B, resulting in an operating margin of 39.6%.

PRLB - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Proto Labs, Inc. reported a net income of 6.00M and revenue of 136.49M, resulting in a net margin of 4.4%.

VRTX - Net Margin

Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Apr 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a net income of 1.19B and revenue of 3.19B, resulting in a net margin of 37.3%.