Top Stocks of 2012: Some Themes to Notice

In this video, analyst John Reeves looks back on one of the Fool's pieces on the market's top 10 stocks of 2012 and notes some important trends for investors to take away. John tells us about the housing recovery trend we saw in 2012 that buoyed several different sectors with links to housing, and gives us three key companies that really took off in 2012 as a result. He also discusses the 3-D printing revolution and the two big names in 3-D printing, Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS  ) and 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD  ) , which tripled, or even quadrupled, investments in 2012.

3D Systems is at the leading edge of a disruptive technological revolution, with the broadest portfolio of 3-D printers in the industry. However, despite years of earnings growth, 3D Systems' share price has risen even faster, and today the company sports a dizzying valuation. To help investors decide whether the future of additive manufacturing is bright enough to justify the lofty price tag on the company's shares, The Motley Fool has compiled a premium research report on whether 3D Systems is a buy right now. In our report, we take a close look at 3D Systems' opportunities, risks, and critical factors for growth. You'll also find reasons to buy or sell, and receive a full year of analyst updates with the report. To start reading, simply click here now for instant access.