ExOne Co (XONE): New 3-D Printer in Town. Should You Invest?

There’s a brand-new player on Wall Street: 3D printing company ExOne Co (NASDAQ:XONE) took to the market last week, and based on how far it has already advanced, some analysts are calling it the best IPO of 2013.

Well, to be fair, 2013 just started. Still, let’s try to find out what exactly makes ExOne tick, how it could be profitable, and whether it has what it takes to make a prolonged splash in the market.

Inside the company
ExOne came about in 2005 as the result of a spinoff. Its father company, Extrude Hone, is known for developing “nontraditional machining processes” in arenas such as metalworking and carbide cladding, among others.

With technology trends growing more toward 3-D printing, ExOne has adapted to keep up with the times by providing supplies and services for 3-D printing in sand, metal, and glass. The company collaborates with the German start-up Genesis, which created the original prototype for 3-D printing out of sand. In the realm of glass and metal, ExOne has exclusive rights to MIT’s 3-D printing processes and has received more than $14 million in contracts to further its research.

Stock performance
ExOne might have some strong tools in its arsenal, but does that make it a good stock? The 3-D printing company has already pulled off a phenomenal IPO, rising 31% since its debut on Feb. 7. After last year’s Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) IPO debacle, this news is a welcome relief for weary investors.

However, ExOne has a long way to go before it can reach the heights of its peers. The uber-successful 3-D printers Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) and 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) have market caps of close to $4 billion, dwarfing ExOne’s comparatively petite $240 million. However, Stratasys and 3D Systems both came from even smaller IPOs — the former came out the gate at around $2 a share in 1994, while the latter started out at close to $8 in 1988 — and both have since reached more than 10 times their original prices. ExOne’s starting price of $24.24 could be a promising sign for the new stock.

Three-dimensional verdict
Although it will take some time to tell for sure whether ExOne is a solid investment, its strategy appears to be solid. The company is striking while the 3-D printing iron is white hot on Wall Street, hoping to reap the same benefits as other companies in its industry. If it plays its cards right and puts forth a solid financial statement or two, it could become a stock market darling.

The article There’s a New 3-D Printer in Town. Should You Invest? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Caroline Bennett.

Fool contributor Caroline Bennett has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of 3D Systems and Stratasys and has options on 3D Systems.

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