PLAB
BuyUnloved QualityAI neutralPhotronics, Inc. · Technology · United States · $1.7B cap · $22.5M/day traded
$28.82 +3.4% · close 27 Oct · scored 28 Oct
Unloved Quality: Strong and cheap; the market has not turned yet.
As of 28 Oct 2026, MoatMap's StockRank for Photronics, Inc. (PLAB) is 74/100, ranked against 24,000+ stocks in 35 markets (Quality 66, Value 74, Momentum 30, each scored against its sector).
Does StockRank work? Each month we publish how every decile did, whichever way it went. See the record →
Photronics makes photomasks for chip and display makers and reported record high-end IC revenue mix in its latest quarter, with a solid balance sheet, an active buyback and modestly rising earnings estimates. Revenue growth was only 2.7%, however, and the business depends on customer design starts in mature and mid-range nodes rather than the leading edge where AI spending concentrates. A shareholder class action is also outstanding.
ABOUT PHOTRONICS, INC.
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Photronics, Inc. is one of the world's leading independent manufacturers of photomasks, which are essential components used in the fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs) and flat panel displays (FPDs). The company maintains a strong competitive position due to the significant capital investment and technical expertise required for photomask production, serving a global base of semiconductor and display manufacturers. Its pure-play focus makes it a critical enabler in the electronics supply chain.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY (USD)
| Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | CAGR | TTM | 2026E | 2027E | Fwd CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 824.5M | 892.1M | 866.9M | 849.3M | 1.0% | 866.8M | 868.0M | 892.4M | 2.5% |
| EPS | 1.96 | 2.05 | 2.12 | 2.29 | 5.3% | 2.81 | 2.29 | 2.37 | 1.6% |
| Shares | 60.8M | 61.3M | 61.9M | 57.6M | -5.2% | 59.0M | — | — | — |
| Debt | 43.7M | 30.7M | 23.0M | 6.0M | -48.5% | 3.9M | — | — | — |
| Equity | 831.5M | 975.0M | 1.1B | 1.2B | 12.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Op CF | 275.2M | 302.2M | 261.4M | 247.8M | -3.4% | 308.4M | — | — | — |
| Inv CF | -147.8M | -101.5M | -156.5M | -238.9M | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fin CF | -38.7M | -18.5M | -7.7M | -115.3M | — | — | — | — | — |
No clear trend: not near its 52-week low, and not in a steady uptrend.
Swung more than 90% of stocks we rank over the past year (83% a year).
How this is worked out
StockRank judges the business. The price check reads only the chart: it is the price side of the Momentum score, in words.
The rules: Still falling is a new 52-week low in the last two weeks, at least 25% below the high. Finding a floor is no new low since. Turning up is 20 or more trading days without a new low, at least 10% off it, and back above a rising 50-day average. In an uptrend is above the 200-day average and within 15% of the high.
In 2,112 US drawdowns since 2001, buying while the price was still falling was followed by a further 20% drop 42% of the time. Waiting for a turn like this one cut that to 33%, at about 7% higher prices and with no better returns. Part of that cut is simply not buying: 13% of falls never turned, and waiting kept those out. Among turns that were bought, 38% still fell another 20%, and 33% of turns were followed by a new low within six months. The benefit was largest in crashes such as 2008 and 2020.
What it measures: day-to-day price moves over the past year, as a yearly figure, ranked against every stock we cover. Very calm under 20% a year, Calm 20 to 30%, Average 30 to 40%, Bumpy 40 to 55%, Very bumpy above that.
What we found: across about 13,500 stocks in 34 markets (2002 to 2025), past swings were a good guide to the next year's, and bumpier stocks fell further. How much further changed too much between eras to put a number on it.
Calm is not safe: a calm stock can still slide steadily.
Rules fixed before any data was fetched. Describes the chart, not a recommendation.
SCORE BREAKDOWN
FUNDAMENTALS
SECTOR PEERS
Closest peers in Technology, ranked by industry match, size, and score similarity. Cross-listings of PLAB are excluded.
| Ticker | Company | Mkt Cap | StockRank | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAB | Photronics, Inc.(you) | $1.7B | 74 | Buy |
| ACMR | ACM Research, Inc. | $3.5B | 54 | Hold |
| ACLS | Axcelis Technologies, Inc. | $3.3B | 46 | Hold |
| COHU | Cohu, Inc. | $2.3B | 34 | Sell |
| ASYS | Amtech Systems, Inc. | $217M | 68 | Buy |
| UCTT | Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. | $2.1B | 28 | Sell |
| IPGP | IPG Photonics Corporation | $3.0B | 33 | Sell |
| ICHR | Ichor Holdings, Ltd. | $1.4B | 24 | Sell |
| VECO | Veeco Instruments Inc. | $2.6B | 28 | Sell |
| FORM | FormFactor, Inc. | $7.7B | 49 | Hold |
Peer medians: ROE 4.8% · P/E 32.6x · Gross margin 52.4%
Company Deep Dive
Business segments breakdown, earnings transcript analysis, management credibility scoring, competitive landscape, and scenario modelling.