Does Powell Industries, Inc. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) 44.2 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 6, returns on capital 16, balance-sheet safety 100, capital discipline 88.

Is POWL stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $82.49 per share versus a recent price of $232.79 — 182% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has POWL's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 44.2 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

Powell Industries, Inc.

POWL · Industrials · $2.8B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power6

Median gross margin 17.5% over 10y, variable.

Returns on capital16

Median ROIC 5.4%, above the 9% hurdle in 40% of years.

Balance-sheet safety100

Net cash position — no leverage risk.

Capital discipline88

Owner earnings +34.6%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

182% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $55.3M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $82.49
Recent price: $232.79
Discount to value: 182% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

18 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Powell Industries, Inc. booked $1.1B of revenue in FY2025 in the Industrials sector and kept 29.4% of it as gross profit — a moderate-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 16.4% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $550.7M (FY2010) to $1.1B (FY2025) — about 4.7% a year compounded over 15 years.

It earned 88.7% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 7.0% across 17 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 16/100.

The balance sheet carried $0 of total debt in FY2022. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 100/100.

The share count rose 3.4% between FY2010 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 88/100.

Put together: Balance-Sheet Safety is the strongest of the four filters (100/100) and Pricing Power the weakest (6/100), which is how POWL lands at 44/100 — a Shallow moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$1.1B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods29.4% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed88.7% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$180.7M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in POWL’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale44.2 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — POWL has read Shallow moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Industrials context

#136 of 309 scored Industrials companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#134DXPE DXP Enterprises, Inc.44.5 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#135SXI STANDEX INTERNATIONAL CORP/DE/44.3 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#137AZTA AZENTA, INC.44.2 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#138GTES Gates Industrial Corporation plc44.2 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

Compare POWL with its nearest peers →All Industrials companies on the Index →

Common questions about POWL

Does Powell Industries, Inc. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Powell Industries, Inc. (POWL) 44.2 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 6, returns on capital 16, balance-sheet safety 100, capital discipline 88.
Is POWL stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 4% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $82.49 per share versus a recent price of $232.79 — 182% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has POWL's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 44.2 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

Embed this score on your site

One iframe, no script. The badge shows POWL’s live Moat Score, updates itself as new filings are scored, and links back here. How it works.

<iframe
  src="https://buylikebuffett.com/embed/POWL"
  width="340" height="150" style="border:0"
  title="POWL Moat Score — The Moat Index"
  loading="lazy"></iframe>

Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell POWL. See the disclaimer.