Head to Head Analysis: JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM) versus Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB)

Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB) and JBT Marel (NYSE:JBTM) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, risk and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Proto Labs and JBT Marel’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Proto Labs	6.04%	5.40%	4.73%
JBT Marel	4.89%	8.75%	4.80%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

84.5% of Proto Labs shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.9% of JBT Marel shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Proto Labs shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of JBT Marel shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

Proto Labs has a beta of 1.52, meaning that its share price is 52% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, JBT Marel has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Proto Labs and JBT Marel, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Proto Labs	0	3	3	0	2.50
JBT Marel	0	2	5	0	2.71

Proto Labs currently has a consensus target price of $100.50, indicating a potential upside of 52.34%. JBT Marel has a consensus target price of $165.20, indicating a potential upside of 28.51%. Given Proto Labs’ higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Proto Labs is more favorable than JBT Marel.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Proto Labs and JBT Marel”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Proto Labs	$533.13 million	2.95	$21.24 million	$1.43	46.13
JBT Marel	$3.80 billion	1.76	-$50.50 million	$3.75	34.28

Proto Labs has higher earnings, but lower revenue than JBT Marel. JBT Marel is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Proto Labs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

About Proto Labs

Proto Labs, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital manufacturer of custom parts in the United States and Europe. The company offers injection molding; computer numerical control machining; three-dimensional printing; and sheet metal fabrication products. It serves developers and engineers, who use 3D computer-aided design software to design products across a range of end-markets. Proto Labs, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Maple Plain, Minnesota.

About JBT Marel

JBT Marel Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, forming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, extracting, pasteurizing, sterilizing, concentrating, high pressure processing, weighing, inspecting, filling, closing, sealing, end of line material handling, and packaging solutions to the food, beverage, and health market. In addition, it offers automated guided vehicle systems for material movement in the manufacturing, warehouse, and medical facilities. It serves baby food, bakery and confectionery, citrus processing, fruits and nuts, juices, non-food, pet food, pharmaceutical, plant- based beverages and protein, poultry, meat, and seafood, ready meals, oils, soups, sauces, seasoning and dressings, automotive, building material, tissue, paper, and packaging, hospitals, pharma and life sciences, fast moving consumer goods, manufacturing, warehousing, and other industries. The company markets and sells its products and solutions through direct sales force, independent distributors, sales representatives, and technical service teams. The company was formerly known as John Bean Technologies Corporation and changed its name to JBT Marel Corporation in January 2025. JBT Marel Corporation was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.