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Side-by-side financial comparison of NLIGHT, INC. (LASR) and Proto Labs Inc (PRLB). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Proto Labs Inc is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($136.5M vs $81.2M, roughly 1.7× NLIGHT, INC.). On growth, NLIGHT, INC. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (71.3% vs 12.1%). NLIGHT, INC. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($15.9M vs $8.4M). Over the past eight quarters, NLIGHT, INC.'s revenue compounded faster (35.0% CAGR vs 3.3%).
nLight Inc. is a global developer and manufacturer of high-performance semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and related optical components. Its products serve key segments including industrial precision manufacturing, aerospace and defense, medical equipment, and advanced research, with customers across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Protolabs is a company that provides rapid manufacturing of 3D printed, CNC-machined, sheet metal, and injection-molded custom parts for prototyping and production. Markets like medical devices, aerospace, electronics, appliances, automotive and consumer products use these parts. Protolabs' headquarters are located in Maple Plain, Minnesota, with Minnesota-based manufacturing facilities in Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, and Rosemount, along with additional facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Ca...
LASR vs PRLB — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $81.2M | $136.5M |
| Net Profit | $-4.9M | — |
| Gross Margin | 30.7% | 44.2% |
| Operating Margin | -6.7% | 5.0% |
| Net Margin | -6.0% | — |
| Revenue YoY | 71.3% | 12.1% |
| Net Profit YoY | 80.3% | — |
| EPS (diluted) | $-0.10 | $0.25 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q4 25 | $81.2M | $136.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $66.7M | $135.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $61.7M | $135.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $51.7M | $126.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $47.4M | $121.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $56.1M | $125.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $50.5M | $125.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $44.5M | $127.9M |
| Q4 25 | $-4.9M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $-6.9M | $7.2M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-3.6M | $4.4M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-8.1M | $3.6M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-25.0M | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $-10.3M | $7.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-11.7M | $4.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | $-13.8M | $5.3M |
| Q4 25 | 30.7% | 44.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 31.1% | 45.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 29.9% | 44.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 26.7% | 44.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.4% | 42.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 22.4% | 45.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 23.5% | 45.0% | ||
| Q1 24 | 16.8% | 44.9% |
| Q4 25 | -6.7% | 5.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | -10.9% | 6.5% | ||
| Q2 25 | -6.9% | 3.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | -18.6% | 3.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | -55.8% | -1.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | -21.0% | 6.8% | ||
| Q2 24 | -25.1% | 4.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | -33.1% | 5.3% |
| Q4 25 | -6.0% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | -10.3% | 5.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | -5.8% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | -15.7% | 2.9% | ||
| Q4 24 | -52.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | -18.4% | 5.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | -23.2% | 3.6% | ||
| Q1 24 | -30.9% | 4.1% |
| Q4 25 | $-0.10 | $0.25 | ||
| Q3 25 | $-0.14 | $0.30 | ||
| Q2 25 | $-0.07 | $0.18 | ||
| Q1 25 | $-0.16 | $0.15 | ||
| Q4 24 | $-0.52 | $-0.01 | ||
| Q3 24 | $-0.21 | $0.29 | ||
| Q2 24 | $-0.25 | $0.18 | ||
| Q1 24 | $-0.29 | $0.20 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $98.7M | $128.1M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $226.7M | $673.9M |
| Total Assets | $315.2M | $763.4M |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $98.7M | $128.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $81.1M | $119.2M | ||
| Q2 25 | $78.8M | $103.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $82.2M | $96.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $65.8M | $103.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $41.5M | $100.5M | ||
| Q2 24 | $49.4M | $112.9M | ||
| Q1 24 | $61.3M | $109.7M |
| Q4 25 | $226.7M | $673.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $218.5M | $664.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $216.0M | $664.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $212.8M | $656.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $216.4M | $670.2M | ||
| Q3 24 | $235.3M | $680.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $239.5M | $685.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $244.4M | $687.3M |
| Q4 25 | $315.2M | $763.4M | ||
| Q3 25 | $298.7M | $756.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $295.3M | $743.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $290.0M | $737.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $270.2M | $743.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $291.3M | $753.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $294.3M | $758.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $302.8M | $769.8M |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $17.5M | $16.5M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $15.9M | $8.4M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 19.6% | 6.2% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 2.0% | 5.9% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | — | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $12.3M | $59.7M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $17.5M | $16.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.2M | $29.1M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-1.4M | $10.6M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-20.0K | $18.4M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-3.9M | $17.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-5.6M | $24.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-4.2M | $14.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $11.4M | $21.3M |
| Q4 25 | $15.9M | $8.4M | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.4M | $25.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-3.8M | $9.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $-2.3M | $17.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-6.5M | $16.5M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-7.2M | $23.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-6.4M | $10.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $9.8M | $18.8M |
| Q4 25 | 19.6% | 6.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.7% | 18.5% | ||
| Q2 25 | -6.1% | 6.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | -4.5% | 13.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | -13.7% | 13.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | -12.9% | 18.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | -12.6% | 8.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | 22.1% | 14.7% |
| Q4 25 | 2.0% | 5.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 4.2% | 3.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.9% | 1.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.4% | 1.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.5% | 0.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.9% | 1.2% | ||
| Q2 24 | 4.2% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.5% | 2.0% |
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 4.03× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 2.39× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 5.11× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | — | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 3.44× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 3.18× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 4.05× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
LASR
| Aerospaceand Defense | $56.3M | 69% |
| Microfabrication | $14.2M | 18% |
| Industrial | $10.7M | 13% |
PRLB
| CNC Machining Firstcut | $65.5M | 48% |
| Injection Molding Protomold | $47.6M | 35% |
| Three D Printing Fineline | $18.8M | 14% |
| Sheet Metal | $4.4M | 3% |
