Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 47.3x · EV/EBITDA 35.9x · ROE 32.2%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $8.5B | $3.7B | $2.7B | $1.0B | $252M | $290M | $282M | $455M | $417M | $344M | $458M |
| Enterprise Value | $8.1B | $3.3B | $2.4B | $760M | $152M | $180M | $128M | $338M | $382M | $277M | $362M |
| P/E Ratio → | 47.25 | 20.51 | 18.06 | 18.42 | 18.34 | 460.11 | 16.99 | 46.06 | — | — | 29.45 |
| P/S Ratio | 7.72 | 3.36 | 2.67 | 1.44 | 0.47 | 0.62 | 0.54 | 0.88 | 0.93 | 0.87 | 0.81 |
| P/B Ratio | 13.33 | 5.79 | 5.60 | 2.91 | 0.85 | 0.96 | 0.92 | 1.52 | 1.38 | 1.07 | 1.37 |
| P/FCF | 55.08 | 23.96 | 27.99 | 5.75 | — | — | 4.19 | 7.06 | — | 10.36 | 6.37 |
| P/OCF | 50.77 | 22.08 | 24.90 | 5.50 | — | — | 3.90 | 6.62 | — | 9.33 | 6.11 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 2.95 | 2.36 | 1.09 | 0.29 | 0.38 | 0.25 | 0.65 | 0.85 | 0.70 | 0.64 |
| EV / EBITDA | 35.88 | 14.48 | 12.88 | 10.69 | 9.16 | 15.78 | 4.12 | 14.36 | 101.13 | — | 12.46 |
| EV / EBIT | 37.07 | 13.96 | 13.38 | 12.16 | 21.08 | 176.22 | 6.25 | 26.90 | — | — | 14.98 |
| EV / FCF | — | 21.06 | 24.74 | 4.35 | — | — | 1.91 | 5.24 | — | 8.36 | 5.04 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 29.4% | 29.4% | 27.0% | 21.1% | 16.0% | 16.0% | 18.2% | 16.8% | 14.6% | 12.8% | 18.8% |
| Operating Margin | 19.7% | 19.7% | 17.7% | 8.9% | 1.4% | 0.2% | 4.0% | 2.2% | -2.0% | -4.9% | 2.8% |
| Net Profit Margin | 16.4% | 16.4% | 14.8% | 7.8% | 2.6% | 0.1% | 3.2% | 1.9% | -1.6% | -2.4% | 2.7% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 32.2% | 32.2% | 36.2% | 17.0% | 4.6% | 0.2% | 5.5% | 3.3% | -2.3% | -2.9% | 4.6% |
| ROA | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.8% | 8.8% | 3.0% | 0.1% | 3.5% | 2.2% | -1.7% | -2.2% | 3.3% |
| ROIC | 90.6% | 90.6% | 99.5% | 31.5% | 2.8% | 0.4% | 9.2% | 3.8% | -2.6% | -5.9% | 4.4% |
| ROCE | 37.5% | 37.5% | 41.7% | 18.8% | 2.3% | 0.3% | 6.5% | 3.7% | -2.8% | -5.7% | 4.6% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.14 | 0.37 | 0.21 | 0.05 | 0.42 | — | 0.08 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | -0.70 | -0.65 | -0.71 | -0.34 | -0.37 | -0.50 | -0.39 | -0.12 | -0.21 | -0.28 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.99 | -1.99 | -1.69 | -3.44 | -5.99 | -9.68 | -4.93 | -4.99 | -9.25 | — | -3.28 |
| Debt / FCF | — | -2.90 | -3.25 | -1.40 | — | — | -2.28 | -1.82 | — | -2.00 | -1.33 |
| Interest Coverage | — | — | — | — | — | 5.00 | 90.17 | 54.63 | -36.19 | -99.71 | 162.40 |
Net cash position: cash ($451M) exceeds total debt ($2M)
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 2.09 | 2.09 | 1.81 | 1.57 | 1.99 | 2.50 | 2.19 | 2.08 | 2.35 | 2.92 | 2.57 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.90 | 1.90 | 1.61 | 1.41 | 1.71 | 2.25 | 2.01 | 1.90 | 2.17 | 2.71 | 2.35 |
| Cash Ratio | 1.07 | 1.07 | 0.84 | 0.71 | 0.63 | 1.11 | 1.17 | 0.79 | 0.42 | 1.11 | 0.83 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.00 | 1.09 | 0.93 | 1.08 | 1.08 | 1.10 | 1.11 | 1.04 | 0.95 | 1.22 |
| Inventory Turnover | 9.21 | 9.21 | 8.61 | 8.64 | 8.88 | 13.26 | 14.64 | 14.73 | 17.95 | 18.71 | 17.31 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 116.92 | 114.40 | 139.52 | 133.34 | 102.90 | 85.47 | 118.35 | 148.04 | 104.76 | 109.04 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 4.9% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.6% |
| Payout Ratio | 7.1% | 7.1% | 8.4% | 22.8% | 89.1% | 1924.2% | 72.4% | 121.3% | — | — | 76.4% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 2.1% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 0.2% | 5.9% | 2.2% | — | — | 3.4% |
| FCF Yield | 1.8% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 17.4% | — | — | 23.8% | 14.2% | — | 9.7% | 15.7% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 1.0% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $37M | $37M | $36M | $36M | $35M | $35M | $35M | $35M | $34M | $34M |
Project-based revenue concentration
According to current market data, Powell trades at a P/E of 56.48, which significantly exceeds its historical averages and peer group multiples, suggesting that investors are pricing in a premium for its unique role as a pure-play beneficiary of domestic energy infrastructure and electrification capital spending.
The elevated P/E and EV/EBITDA multiples appear to reflect market optimism regarding the company's backlog conversion and its specialized niche in modular power control rooms. However, investors should monitor whether this valuation is sustainable given the decelerating revenue growth, as the current pricing implies a high expectation for long-term margin expansion that may be difficult to maintain if project cycles soften.
Based on reported financial figures, Powell has maintained a strong ROIC, peaking at 50.3% in 2024Q2 before moderating to 24.5% in 2026Q2, which indicates that the firm is highly efficient at generating returns on its invested capital through its specialized, high-margin engineering project model.
The volatility in ROIC is largely a function of the project-based revenue recognition, where milestone completions cause periodic spikes in capital efficiency. The company's ability to sustain double-digit returns without the use of financial leverage suggests a robust competitive moat, though the recent decline from peak levels warrants further investigation into whether project complexity is increasing faster than the associated returns.
As reported in recent quarterly filings, Powell's cash conversion cycle has fluctuated significantly, reaching 128 days in 2024Q1 before tightening to 75 days in 2026Q2, reflecting the inherent sensitivity of the firm's working capital to the timing of large-scale industrial project billings and customer payment milestones.
The variability in the cash conversion cycle highlights the operational challenges of managing long-cycle engineering projects where DSO and DIO are subject to client-driven delays. While the recent improvement in the cycle is encouraging, the reliance on project-specific payment terms suggests that liquidity management will remain a critical, albeit lumpy, component of the company's operational efficiency.
According to the latest balance sheet data, Powell maintains a zero-debt capital structure, which provides a significant buffer against industrial cyclicality and distinguishes the firm from more leveraged peers like Hubbell or nVent that utilize debt to optimize their capital structures and fund inorganic growth initiatives.
The absence of debt is a double-edged sword; while it eliminates refinancing risk and interest coverage concerns, it may also indicate a conservative capital allocation strategy that limits potential ROE expansion. Investors should monitor whether management intends to deploy this substantial cash reserve for strategic M&A or if the current zero-leverage stance will persist, potentially dragging on long-term shareholder returns.
The P/E ratio is frequently misapplied to Powell's business model because it fails to account for the extreme lumpiness of project-based earnings, which can lead to distorted valuation signals during periods of significant milestone recognition or project-related cost overruns that do not reflect the underlying long-term earning power.
Analysts should instead focus on the backlog-to-revenue conversion rate and normalized free cash flow, as these metrics provide a more accurate view of the company's health than quarterly net income. Relying solely on P/E ignores the significant cash-on-hand, which acts as a non-operating asset that effectively lowers the company's true valuation when adjusted for its net cash position.
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying POWL stock.
Powell Industries, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 47.3x. The historical average is 27.4x. This places it at the 92th percentile of its historical range.
Powell Industries, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 35.9x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 11.2x.
Powell Industries, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 32.2%. This is above the typical threshold of 15-20% considered good for most companies. The historical average is 9.1%.
Based on historical data, Powell Industries, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 47.3x. This is at the 92th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Powell Industries, Inc.'s current dividend yield is 0.15% with a payout ratio of 7.1%.
Powell Industries, Inc. has 29.4% gross margin and 19.7% operating margin. Operating margin between 10-20% is typical for established companies.
Powell Industries, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 0.0x, indicating low leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.