Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: POWLAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

POWL AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) provides custom-engineered equipment and systems for electrical power distribution and control. In FY2025, revenue reached $1.10B with a net margin of 16.4%, up from $470.6M in FY2021. The company carries a strong financial position, reporting $631.0M in net cash as of June 30, 2026.

Market cap
$6.02B
Revenue (TTM)
$1.16B
P/E
31.6x
fwd 29.3x
1Y return
46.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$267.50
62.0% vs last close

Bull case

  • Operating margin reached 19.7% in FY2025 and 20.5% over the trailing twelve months, well above the US-listed Industrials peer median of 11.7%.
  • The company maintains a strong liquidity profile with $631.0M in net cash and total debt of only $2.5M as of June 30, 2026.
  • Analysts project next fiscal year revenue growth of 24.5% to $1.48B, with a mean price target of $267.50 offering 62.0% upside to the last close of $165.14.

Bear case

  • POWL carries a forward P/E of 29.3x and price-to-sales of 5.2x, trading at a premium to the US-listed Industrials peer medians of 17.2x and 1.5x.
  • Revenue growth slowed to 9.1% in FY2025 and 8.9% year-over-year in the latest quarter, down sharply from 44.8% growth in FY2024.
  • The stock has pulled back significantly from its 52-week high of $328.00, trading at $165.14 and 21.8% below its 200-day average, while short interest is 11.1% of the float.

What Powell Industries does

Powell Industries, Inc. specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, sales, and servicing of custom-engineered equipment and systems that facilitate the distribution, control, and monitoring of electrical energy. Its product lineup includes integrated power control room substations, custom-engineered modules, electrical houses, medium-voltage circuit breakers, and monitoring and control communications systems. It also provides motor control centers, bus duct systems, and traditional and arc-resistant switchgears operating between 480 and 38,000 volts. Powell serves industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, LNG terminals, pipelines, mining, metals, light rail traction power, and electric utilities, while offering spare parts, inspection, installation, commissioning, repair, and retrofit services.

Growth and profitability

Powell has expanded revenue at a 5-year CAGR of 16.3% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue grew from $470.6M in FY2021 to $1.01B in FY2024 and $1.10B in FY2025. Over this period, gross margin improved from 16.0% in FY2021 to 29.4% in FY2025, while operating margin expanded from 0.2% to 19.7%. Net income rose from $631,000 in FY2021 to $180.7M in FY2025, bringing EPS to $4.95. For the trailing twelve months, revenue totaled $1.16B with EPS of $5.22. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 8.9% year-over-year and quarterly earnings grew 7.6%.

POWL income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Powell held $633.6M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $2.5M, yielding net cash of $631.0M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.00. The current ratio stood at 1.97, and shareholders' equity was $756.2M. In FY2025, the company generated $167.9M in operating cash flow and $154.8M in free cash flow. Capital expenditures were $13.1M, share buybacks totaled $12.2M, and dividends paid were $12.9M.

POWL balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

POWL trades at a trailing P/E of 31.6x and a forward P/E of 29.3x, both higher than the median of its US-listed Industrials peers at 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively. Its price-to-sales of 5.2x and EV/EBITDA of 26.9x also sit above the peer medians of 1.5x and 13.9x. The stock has posted a 1-year return of 46.7%, outpacing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%, and a 5-year return of 1905.1% compared to 83.0% for the index. However, at $165.14, the stock sits 21.8% below its 200-day average and off its 52-week high of $328.00.

POWL key metrics →

POWL dividend

Powell pays an annual forward dividend of $0.36 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.22% with a payout ratio of 6.9%. The company distributes dividends quarterly and has paid dividends for 14 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 0.6%, and the last ex-dividend date was August 19, 2026.

POWL dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 1 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 2 Holds, with no Sell ratings. The mean price target is $267.50, which is 62.0% above the last close of $165.14. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $5.37 on revenue of $1.19B. For the next fiscal year, 5 analysts project EPS of $6.82 on revenue of $1.48B. Powell has beat EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 17, 2026.

POWL forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Powell has beaten EPS estimates in only 2 of the last 4 quarters, creating potential quarterly earnings volatility.
  • Short interest stands at 11.1% of float, reflecting negative sentiment among some market participants.
  • Growth rates showed deceleration from 44.8% in FY2024 to 9.1% in FY2025 and 8.9% in the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this POWL AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: POWL income statement, POWL balance sheet, POWL key metrics, POWL analyst forecast, POWL chart. See the POWL stock overview for the latest quote and news.

POWL AI stock analysis FAQ

What does Powell Industries do?

Powell Industries designs, manufactures, and services custom-engineered equipment and systems for electrical distribution and control. Its products include power control rooms, switchgears, circuit breakers, and motor control centers for heavy industries like oil and gas, utilities, and mining.

What is Powell's balance sheet position?

As of June 30, 2026, Powell had $633.6M in cash and short-term investments and $2.5M in total debt, leaving it with $631.0M in net cash and a current ratio of 1.97.

Does Powell Industries pay a dividend?

Yes, Powell pays an annual forward dividend of $0.36 per share, yielding 0.22% with a payout ratio of 6.9%. It has paid dividends for 14 consecutive years.

What are analysts forecasting for Powell's earnings?

Analysts estimate EPS of $5.37 on revenue of $1.19B for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and EPS of $6.82 on revenue of $1.48B for the following fiscal year.

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