3D Systems Corporation (DDD), Stratasys, Ltd. (SSYS): 3D Printers Level the Playing Field for Small Business

If you’re into making stuff, your life just got easier with the availability of 3-D printing technology that is increasingly becoming more affordable.

3-D printers have been used for years by companies such as General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), BMW, and Siemens AG (ADR) (NYSE:SI) in their manufacturing processes. Now the technology has become much more affordable and accessible for the average consumer or small business. By spending a few thousand dollars, you can create your very own design prototypes, courtesy of the following companies that make the technology possible.

3-D printing’s top players

Three of the main players in the 3-D printing universe are Dassault Systemes, 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD), and Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS).

Dassault Systemes, in business since 1981, provides its industrial customers the ability to design complex shapes and create digital mockups. The company’s solutions provide a 3-D vision of a product’s entire lifecycle from its initial creation to periodic maintenance.

In April, the company reported first-quarter results which were in line with business objectives. The company reports quarterly numbers in euros. I used a rate of $1 to 0.78 euros to convert to U.S. dollars. Dassault’s total revenue grew by 6% to $622.2 million, receiving support from 8% growth in software revenue, but dragged down by a 7% decrease in services and other revenue. The 7% drop was attributed to a lower number of new projects in the quarter. The increase in software revenue was due to growth in maintenance and rental activity. The company anticipated license revenues to go down 2%, due to lower economic demand and a strong first-quarter in 2012, where revenues rose 18%. Dassault’s board voted to increase the company’s cash dividend by 14% to $1.02 per share.

While Dassault’s focus is on the industrial uses of the technology, 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) provides both business and personal 3-D printing solutions. First-quarter results for 2013 showed an increase in revenue of 31% to $102.1 million over the first quarter of  2012, fueled by an increase of 61% in printers and other product revenue of $39.7 million. Once the company’s Cube 3-D printer for consumers goes on sale in the second quarter, it will be interesting to see how company sales are affected by the product. Chairman and CEO Avi Reichental commented the company was pleased with the outstanding quarterly results on higher printer sales and believes the company will benefit from continuing R&D and manufacturing spending by customers.

Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS). was born from the merger of two 3-D printing companies and, since June of 2012, has the widest range of 3-D printing materials in the industry. The company had good first-quarter results for 2013 with GAAP revenue of $97.2 million. There was a GAAP net loss of $15.5 million or $0.40 a share, however. Stratysys booked non-GAAP income of $17.6 million and $0.43 per diluted share, which was 40% higher than pro-forma figures for the same period last year. The GAAP loss absorbs expenses related to stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles, and merger-related expenses. CEO David Reis sees continued strong worldwide demand for the company’s products and services and is pleased with the strong first-quarter sales and increase in non-GAAP income.