First up, Motley Fool:
Why 3D Systems' Shares Soared
What: Shares of 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD ) were up as much as 19% in early trading, but have settled into a gain of over 14%, after the company's third-quarter earnings came in ahead of analysts' expectations. Strong results also prompted a full-year guidance boost.And from Investors Business Daily:
So what: The high-flying 3-D printing pioneer looks to reverse a summertime stock-price slide with $90.5 million in revenue and adjusted EPS of $0.32. Both figures beat the consensus estimates of $87.3 million and $0.27 in EPS. Full-year earnings guidance was raised to $1.20 to $1.30 per share on revenue of $345 million to $365 million. The earnings boost comes in well north of the consensus projection of $1.12 in EPS for 2012. Results were generally strong across the board, continuing 3D Systems' tradition of consistent growth in all segments.
Professional and personal printers saw the strongest growth, which indicates more interest in prototyping than in the final production of goods at the moment. There's no word on how much interest there is in the company's consumer-focused low-cost Cube printer, as 3D Systems specifically excluded it from its calculation of 123% growth in printer unit sales, but did not offer specific numbers otherwise....MORE
Stratasys, 3D Systems Fashion Third-Stage Bases
3D Systems (DDD) soared 14% Thursday, hoisting peer Stratasys (SSYS) in the process and bolstering the already strong—running automated equipment group.SSYS closed at $66.49, up 7.85%
The group, by its proper name Machinery-Material Handling/Automation, started the year at a No. 141 ranking. Over the past six months, it has bounced in and out of the top 10 industries, slipping as low as a No. 48 ranking, but never out of the 50 leading industry groups.
The drivers have been twofold. One, businesses are expanding or replacing their fleets of forklifts and automated manufacturing facilities. Two, the rapid proliferation of three-dimensional printers used primarily to manufacture medical and engineering prototypes.
3D Systems on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings growth of 78%, nearly 20% above analyst consensus forecasts. Revenue swept up 57%, topping consensus views of 51%.
The company said "economic uncertainties" lingered in parts of the world, but that it's expected to "continue to benefit from robust R&D spending by our customers worldwide."
Management boosted full-year earnings and sales guidance well beyond analyst forecasts. Analysts now call for a 100% EPS gain in Q4, on a 41% increase in sales.
The hitch for 3D Systems is that its current stock chart base, an eight-week cup, is a third-stage structure. That suggests that, despite lofty earnings forecasts, the stock will need to reset its base count before opening up room for a significant run.
Stratasys, an IBD 50 stock, vaulted 7% Thursday, climbing further up the right side of a 10-week cup. Analysts expect a 37% gain in earnings and a 40% rise in revenue — its best since March last year — when the company reports third-quarter results Nov. 2.
But Stratasys' weak spot is the same as 3D Systems: the current base is a third-stage piece of work. That doesn't doom it to failure. But it does add an element of risk that investors may be able to avoid by hunting down a more bullet-proof leader.
Stratasys holds a Composite Rating of 99, vs. 3D Systems' 97 rating.
See also Oct. 15:
It's Official: 3-D Printing Has Gone Mainstream (DDD; SSYS)
Thus sayeth CNN.We have many, many more posts on these two in particular and the 3D printer biz in general, use the 'search blog' box, keyword SSYS.
SSYS $63.88 and DDD $37.79 at the close.
Both considerably below their 52-week and all-time highs.
With Friday's 5.46% gain for Stratasys and 3.39% for 3D Systems followed by 1.89% and 3.74% moves today, I think my work here is done.
Time to sell out to the Young Turks, shut down the blog and buy the island I've been promising myself....
