Tearsheet

Dolby Laboratories (DLB)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $67.11 | Market Cap: $6.4 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Application Software

Dolby Laboratories (DLB)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $67.11
Market Cap: $6.4 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Application Software

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -10%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -64%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -72%
Key risks
DLB key risks include [1] its heavy reliance on the adoption and sales success of its licensing partners, Show more.
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 35%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 32%
  
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 6.7%
  
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 24%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Content & Streaming. Themes include Video Streaming, Music Streaming, and Gaming Content & Platforms.
  
0 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -10%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 35%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 32%
2 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 6.7%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 24%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Digital Content & Streaming. Themes include Video Streaming, Music Streaming, and Gaming Content & Platforms.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -64%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -72%
6 Key risks
DLB key risks include [1] its heavy reliance on the adoption and sales success of its licensing partners, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

DLB Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

The requested time period for the stock movement (August 31, 2025, to December 18, 2025) is in the future relative to my last training data. Therefore, I cannot provide actual, specific events that caused a -5.8% decline for Dolby Laboratories (DLB) during that precise future timeframe. However, based on general factors that influence technology and audio-video production companies like Dolby, here are potential key points that could lead to such a stock movement:

1. Macroeconomic Headwinds and Consumer Spending: A general slowdown in the global economy, rising interest rates, and inflationary pressures could lead to reduced consumer spending on discretionary items, including electronics and entertainment systems that incorporate Dolby's technologies. This macroeconomic uncertainty can depress stock prices across the tech sector.

2. Intense Competition and Market Saturation in Audio-Video Production: The audio-video production industry faces stiff competition and rapid technological advancements. Increased competition from other technology providers, or a saturation in key markets for audio and video equipment, could pressure Dolby's licensing revenue and market share, leading to investor concerns.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
DLB Return43%-1%-25%24%-8%-13%6%
Peers Return16%9%-27%13%16%17%41%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%14%108%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
DLB Win Rate75%58%42%67%42%33% 
Peers Win Rate55%47%28%58%50%55% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
DLB Max Drawdown-32%-13%-33%0%-22%-16% 
Peers Max Drawdown-46%-11%-38%-12%-19%-31% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: XPER, IMAX, SONO, CRUS, ADI. See DLB Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/17/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventDLBS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-38.7%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven63.2%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-35.7%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven55.5%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven225 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-20.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven25.2%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven184 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-52.9%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven112.1%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven448 days1,480 days

Compare to ADSK, HIT, BMR, BTTC, CCC


In The Past

Dolby Laboratories's stock fell -38.7% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 5/4/2021. A -38.7% loss requires a 63.2% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

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About Dolby Laboratories (DLB)

Better Bets than Dolby Laboratories (DLB)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to DLB. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
10.4%10.4%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.7%10.7%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
12.2%12.2%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
4.2%4.2%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
13.6%13.6%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
10.4%10.4%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.7%10.7%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
12.2%12.2%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
4.2%4.2%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
13.6%13.6%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Dolby Laboratories

Peers to compare with:

Financials

DLBXPERIMAXSONOCRUSADIMedian
NameDolby La.Xperi Imax Sonos Cirrus L.Analog D. 
Mkt Price67.145.8237.4218.21119.99271.0452.28
Mkt Cap6.40.32.01.96.1120.64.1
Rev LTM1,3494543781,4431,94811,0201,396
Op Inc LTM280-4274-334493,002177
FCF LTM430-22641085344,279269
FCF 3Y Avg355-4242984033,652226
CFO LTM472-31091375574,812305
CFO 3Y Avg389-26811424354,494266

Growth & Margins

DLBXPERIMAXSONOCRUSADIMedian
NameDolby La.Xperi Imax Sonos Cirrus L.Analog D. 
Rev Chg LTM5.9%-10.7%9.3%-4.9%2.2%16.9%4.1%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg2.5%-2.4%7.6%-6.3%-0.1%-1.4%-0.7%
Rev Chg Q0.7%-16.0%16.6%12.7%3.5%25.9%8.1%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM0.2%-4.5%4.2%2.3%1.0%6.1%1.6%
Op Mgn LTM20.8%-9.2%19.7%-2.3%23.0%27.2%20.2%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg20.6%-18.7%15.2%-2.1%20.3%27.2%17.8%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.7%3.2%1.8%2.7%0.4%1.9%1.9%
CFO/Rev LTM35.0%-0.7%28.9%9.5%28.6%43.7%28.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg29.6%-5.0%21.9%9.4%22.8%41.2%22.4%
FCF/Rev LTM31.9%-4.9%16.8%7.5%27.4%38.8%22.1%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg27.0%-8.3%11.1%6.5%21.1%33.6%16.1%

Valuation

DLBXPERIMAXSONOCRUSADIMedian
NameDolby La.Xperi Imax Sonos Cirrus L.Analog D. 
Mkt Cap6.40.32.01.96.1120.64.1
P/S4.80.74.71.33.310.94.0
P/EBIT22.98.424.4-13.3-18.1
P/E25.243.144.5-31.216.953.234.1
P/CFO13.6-88.616.113.911.525.113.8
Total Yield5.0%2.3%2.2%-3.2%5.9%3.5%2.9%
Dividend Yield1.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.6%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg4.9%-10.6%3.1%-6.6%-4.0%
D/E0.00.20.1-0.0-0.1
Net D/E-0.1-0.10.1--0.1--0.1

Returns

DLBXPERIMAXSONOCRUSADIMedian
NameDolby La.Xperi Imax Sonos Cirrus L.Analog D. 
1M Rtn4.6%-2.3%6.4%14.7%3.9%18.3%5.5%
3M Rtn-5.5%-2.7%15.5%20.7%0.7%10.4%5.6%
6M Rtn-7.5%-24.9%28.2%83.4%15.0%18.9%17.0%
12M Rtn-12.9%-44.9%47.9%25.1%16.1%28.9%20.6%
3Y Rtn-0.6%-36.2%154.4%3.8%56.2%71.2%30.0%
1M Excs Rtn3.8%-3.1%5.7%13.9%3.2%17.6%4.8%
3M Excs Rtn-7.7%-6.4%14.5%16.2%-3.6%7.9%2.1%
6M Excs Rtn-19.9%-37.3%15.8%71.0%2.6%6.5%4.6%
12M Excs Rtn-24.7%-56.8%32.7%13.9%1.4%16.1%7.6%
3Y Excs Rtn-72.5%-112.8%64.9%-67.2%-14.2%-2.7%-40.7%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20252024202320222021
Single Segment1,2741,3001,2541,2811,162
Total1,2741,3001,2541,2811,162


Net Income by Segment
$ Mil20252024202320222021
Single Segment262    
Total262    


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11282025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity2,825,913
Short Interest: % Change Since 111520256.6%
Average Daily Volume810,890
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.48
Basic Shares Quantity95,631,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.0%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
11/18/20250.1%4.3% 
7/31/2025-7.0%-4.5%-4.4%
5/1/2025-1.7%-1.6%-2.5%
1/29/20258.3%4.7%1.6%
11/19/202415.6%13.3%9.7%
8/7/2024-7.2%-4.2%-6.1%
5/2/20243.0%3.9%1.7%
2/1/2024-5.4%-4.9%-2.3%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive111211
# Negative131213
Median Positive3.5%4.1%3.7%
Median Negative-5.8%-3.5%-2.7%
Max Positive15.6%13.3%13.1%
Max Negative-11.1%-12.5%-16.5%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251118202510-K 9/26/2025
6302025731202510-Q 6/27/2025
3312025501202510-Q 3/28/2025
12312024130202510-Q 12/27/2024
93020241119202410-K 9/27/2024
6302024807202410-Q 6/28/2024
3312024502202410-Q 3/29/2024
12312023202202410-Q 12/29/2023
93020231117202310-K 9/29/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023505202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022202202310-Q 12/30/2022
93020221118202210-K 9/30/2022
6302022809202210-Q 7/1/2022
3312022505202210-Q 4/1/2022
12312021204202210-Q 12/31/2021