Photronics Inc (PLAB) Stock Analysis
Verdict: HOLD
Depressed 9.7x P/E and $486M net cash limit downside, but a 47% 90-day drawdown and heavy insider selling signal near-term cyclical friction.
Investment score: 62/100
Analysis as of
Is Photronics Inc stock worth reviewing? AI model thesis
PLAB presents an attractive fundamental value profile (P/E 9.7x, $486M net cash), offset by poor 90-day technical momentum (-47%) and insider selling.
7-factor investment score
- Valuation: 75/100 (weight 20%)
- Financial Health: 85/100 (weight 15%)
- Technical Momentum: 30/100 (weight 15%)
- Earnings Quality: 65/100 (weight 15%)
- Insider Sentiment: 25/100 (weight 10%)
- Analyst Consensus: 80/100 (weight 10%)
- Risk-Adjusted Return: 60/100 (weight 15%)
Photronics Inc opportunities and risks
What speaks for PLAB
- Rock-solid net cash position of $486.3M ($8.26 per share) provides a 29.8% safety floor under current stock price.
What speaks against PLAB
- Cyclical downturn and customer CapEx reductions in flat panel display (FPD) and mainstream IC nodes.
Peers and competitors
| Ticker | P/E | P/S | EV/EBITDA | Gross margin | Net margin | FCF yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAB | 9.7x | 1.9x | 3.2x | 33.7% | 19.0% | 6.8% |
| UCTT | n/a | 1.3x | 28.6x | 15.8% | -1.1% | -3.8% |
| AEHR | n/a | 49.4x | n/a | 34.7% | -14.0% | -0.2% |
| COHU | n/a | 4.1x | 98.0x | 39.2% | -7.4% | 1.6% |
| ICHR | n/a | 1.8x | 272.6x | 10.1% | -4.0% | -1.4% |
| PDFS | 165.7x | 7.2x | 55.8x | 71.5% | 4.3% | -0.1% |
| Peer median | n/a | 4.1x | 55.8x | 34.7% | -4.0% | -0.2% |
Frequently asked questions about Photronics Inc (PLAB)
Is PLAB stock a good investment?
The cached TradeMates AI model rates Photronics Inc as HOLD with an investment score of 62/100. PLAB presents an attractive fundamental value profile (P/E 9.7x, $486M net cash), offset by poor 90-day technical momentum (-47%) and insider selling. This is algorithmic model output, not personal investment advice.
Is PLAB stock a buy?
The TradeMates model verdict for PLAB is HOLD with an investment score of 62/100. Treat this as a model signal to review, not a personal buy recommendation.