In this article we discuss the 5 Best 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Stocks to Buy. If you want to read our detailed analysis of these companies, go directly to the 10 Best 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Stocks to Buy.
5. 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16
3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) is a provider of 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific. The company provides stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal printing, multi-jet printing, and color jet printing through its 3D printers. It ranks 5th on our list of the best 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks to buy.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 16 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD). The total value of their stakes came up to roughly $315 million. This is compared to 15 hedge fund holders in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $59.7 million.
4. Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE: PRLB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE: PRLB) operates as an e-commerce driven manufacturer of custom prototypes and 0n-demand production parts globally. Apart from 3D printing, the company also offers injection molding and computer numerical and control machining. It ranks 4th on our list of the best 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks to buy.
In the first quarter of 2021, Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE: PRLB) had an EPS valued at $0.40, in line with estimates for the quarter. The company brought in $116.13 million in revenue and has a gross profit margin of 49.39%.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 18 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE: PRLB). The total value of their stakes came up to roughly $515 million. This is compared to 16 hedge fund holders in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $654 million.
Harding Loevner, an investment management firm, mentioned Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE: PRLB) in their first quarter of 2021 investor letter. Here’s what they said:
“Shares of Protolabs, a provider of 3D printing and other rapid prototyping and mold machining services for manufacturing, extended their strong performance from last year and soared early in January after the company announced its intention to acquire another on-demand digital manufacturing platform. We took advantage of their runup to sell our position.”
3. Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) works with additive manufacturing solutions for engineers, designers, and manufacturers in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company ranks 3rd on our list of the best 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks to buy.
This March, Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) aided and co-created a “breakthrough” powder for 3D printed aluminum to be used in the binder jetting AM technology. In the first quarter of 2021, Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) beat EPS estimates with their $0.03 EPS value versus estimates of -$0.12. Revenue for the quarter stood at $11.31 million, representing a 2.58% growth year over year. The stock has gained 22.96% in the past year, and the stock has a consensus Buy rating.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 20 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM). The total value of their stakes came up to roughly $216 million. This is compared to 24 hedge fund holders in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $320 million.
Baron Growth Fund mentioned Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) in its investor letter for the fourth quarter of 2020. Here‘s what they said:
“This quarter the Fund made a private investment in Desktop Metal, Inc., an emerging leader in additive manufacturing systems. Additive manufacturing, which is colloquially known as “3D printing,” has long tantalized manufacturers with the idea of a single machine capable of producing an unlimited number of parts with infinite degrees of complexity from a vast array of materials.
Traditional manufacturing techniques frequently rely on expensive equipment known as “tooling.” Tooling is limited in the range of parts it can make, and creates high levels of scrap, waste, and pollution. Manufacturers also have to make runs that exceed a minimum size in order to cover the significant upfront cost of the equipment. We believe that additive manufacturing has the potential to improve on many of these shortcomings. A single, flexible additive manufacturing system can reduce the required investment in tooling, eliminate scrap, waste, and inventory, decrease time-to-market, and reduce complexity. Ultimately, additive manufacturing can reduce the total cost to make a part of product…” (Click here to view the full text)
2. Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) offers connected and polymer-based 3D printing solutions to customers, alongside 3D printing systems like polyjet printers, FDM printers, stereolithography printing systems, and programmable photopolymerization printers for faster prototyping. The company ranks 2nd on our list of the best 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks to buy.
On June 15th, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) announced the launch of two new PolyJet 3D printers called the Stratasys J35 Pro and J55 Prime, alongside new software solutions. The company is now accepting orders for the two new printers. In the first quarter of 2021, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) had an EPS valued at -$0.06 versus the -$0.07 estimate and brought in $134.19 million in revenue. The company also has a gross profit margin of 43.56% and has gained 7.97% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 24 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS). The total value of their stakes came up to roughly $481 million. This is compared to 16 hedge fund holders in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $352 million.
Alger, an investment management firm, mentioned Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS). Here‘s what the fund said:
“Short position Stratasys also contributed to performance. Stratasys is one of the larger 3D printing companies. While additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a revolutionary concept, it has only seen its primary adoption for manufacturing prototypes and test parts, not high-volume end-use parts. Unfortunately for incumbents like Stratasys, additive manufacturing has continued to attract capital and dozens of new entrants have emerged with new technologies targeting specific applications. Industry pioneers like Stratasys have seen key patents expire and have lost market share to new competition. As a result of these factors, Stratasys has not grown for five years. Some industry participants believe that Stratasys’ plastic extrusion technology is simply too slow to be an acceptable solution for higher volume manufacturing. The short position contributed to portfolio returns when Stratasys’ shares declined due to year-over-year revenue contraction, continuing market share losses, a talent exodus, the issuance of new shares via a secondary offering, and no significant progress on developing new opportunities in promising additive verticals like metal and dental.”
1. HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a technology company providing personal computing and other access devices, imaging, and printing products. The company has launched its 3D printing strategy, joining the additive manufacturing sector in 2016 and launching a range of polymer 3D printing systems, including Metal Jet technology. The company ranks 1st on our list of the best 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks to buy.
This June, HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) acquired HyperX, Kingston Technology’s former gaming division. The acquisition is supposed to help growth in HP Inc.’s (NYSE: HPQ) Personal Systems Business. In the first quarter of 2021, the company had an EPS valued at $0.92 versus estimates of $0.66, and its revenue for the quarter valued at $15.65 billion, showcasing a 6.97% growth year over year. The company has a gross profit margin of 19.38% and a forward PE ratio of 8.35. The stock gained 20.9% in the past 6 months and 21.15% year to date.
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 43 hedge funds out of the 866 tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ). The total value of their stakes came up to roughly $1.53 billion. This is compared to 39 hedge fund holders in the previous quarter with a total stake value of about $1.05 billion.
You can also take a look at 10 Best Stocks for Beginners with Little Money and 15 Most Valuable Technology Companies in the World.
