3D Systems Posts Strong Revenue Growth and Expectations Rise for February Auto Sales

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.06%) is trading 0.21% higher by midafternoon after U.S. fourth-quarter GDP growth was revised down to 2.4% from the initial 3.2% mark. In other news, pending home sales rose only 0.1% in January from the previous month, which was less than expected. These numbers go hand in hand with lower consumer spending which will be something for investors to watch as we head into the last month of the first quarter. With that in mind, here are some companies making headlines on the last day in February.

3D Systems (DDD 2.36%) today announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2013 results that initially sent the stock shooting up before it settled down for a .84% gain just before 3 p.m. 3D Systems posted record quarterly and annual revenue, up 52% and 45% year over year, respectively. The company's organic growth increased 34% in the fourth quarter and 29% for the full year. Though the results are impressive, it's clear revenue growth could have been even higher.

"Compared to our late quarter expectations, we are disappointed that our stronger order book didn't convert to higher revenue, but instead, resulted in a near doubling of last quarter's backlog. Despite our higher growth, certain revenue categories fell short of our expectations and the concentration of new product announcements deferred sales and suppressed expected gross profit margin for the quarter," Avi Reichental, 3D Systems' president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.

3D systems expects 2014 revenue to check in between $680 million to $720 million on 30% organic growth.

In the automotive industry, investors hope that February will help offset a weak January performance caused by less than favorable weather.

"When the weather doesn't behave, it has a negative impact on car shoppers who are looking for an easy and smooth process at the dealership, so that's why sales will be weak for a second month in a row," according to Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell. "But as the weather improves -- a lot like we saw this past week -- dealerships will be filled with eager shoppers. The strength of pent-up demand promises to keep sales on the right path as spring approaches."

Edmunds projects General Motors (GM -0.05%), Ford (F 0.17%), and Toyota (TM -0.91%) to lead sales by volume, although expectations are for the industry to post a meager 0.8% increase over last year's February. That said, that would also be a 18.9% improvement over the weak January results.

Source: Edmunds.com.

Edmunds projects industry sales to reach 1,201,445 for the month, which would equate to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.5 million. Just as important as the sales figures themselves will be how the industry is using incentives to increase foot traffic -- if sales remain weak automakers could be tempted to increase incentives to improve sales, which could lead to price wars. It will be important for investors to keep an eye on incentive figures and overall sales as we head into the last month of the quarter and into the important spring-selling months.