3D printing stocks refer to shares of publicly traded companies that are involved in the 3D printing industry, which includes businesses that produce 3D printers, supply 3D printing materials, and provide 3D printing services.
Back in the early 2010s, stocks were booming for 3D printing -- also known as additive manufacturing, a computer-controlled process in which three-dimensional objects are made. But the boom was followed by a bust as many pure-play 3D printing companies didn't immediately deliver on lofty expectations.
1. Nano Dimension
2. Stratasys
4. 3D Systems
5. PTC
NASDAQ: PTC
Key Data Points
By far the largest company on this list, PTC (PTC -1.70%) is a longtime technology partner of manufacturing and industrial enterprises. PTC reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $2.74 billion and $857 million in free cash flow. Highly profitable, PTC reported fiscal 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $6.14, and it projects fiscal 2026 EPS of $4.37 to $6.87. It has all the tools needed to digitally transform industrial businesses.
Besides 3D printing computer-aided design software (ANSYS is a peer and software partner that also operates in this space), PTC specializes in augmented reality, industrial IoT (Internet of Things), and product lifecycle management software. Most of its revenue is subscription-based (including its Creo software that enables 3D printing), making for a stable and steadily growing business model that generates ample cash flow. PTC puts spare cash to work developing new products for its partners and makes bolt-on acquisitions of other software companies that enhance its overall portfolio.
As a larger company, PTC won't be the fastest-growing stock in the additive manufacturing and 3D printing space. However, the company has established itself as a leader in industrial technology and should be a primary beneficiary as the production of manufactured goods gets more efficient.
Types of 3D printing stocks
Under the umbrella of 3D printing stocks, a variety of options occupy different niches within the industry. Hardware companies, like 3D Systems and Stratasys, for example, design and manufacture the actual 3D printers and related equipment. On the other hand, stocks of materials suppliers -- those that provide the resins, metals, and polymers which form the basis of additive manufacturing -- offer a different angle to exposure.
A third opportunity for investors is in software and design solution providers, which offer tools to assist customers in using 3D printing solutions. Meanwhile, service-based companies like Proto Labs and Xometry provide on-demand prototyping and other production services.
Why invest in 3D printing stocks?
While many may recognize the numerous opportunities to gain 3D printing stock exposure, they may be questioning why they're a worthwhile investment. Here are some of the more compelling reasons why now's a great time to click the buy button on a 3D printing stock:
- From healthcare to industrials, businesses from a variety of sectors are embracing 3D printing technology, so there is the potential for strong growth.
- Investing in 3D printing stocks may help with your portfolio diversification.
- As 3D printing companies continue to innovate, there will likely be new applications for the technology that emerge.
Risks of investing in 3D printing stocks
While some investors may be eager to gain exposure to the 3D printing industry, it's essential -- as with investments in any industry -- to recognize the potential risks.
At the top of the list of possible pitfalls for investors to consider is the questionable profitability of 3D printing stocks. Many of the industry leaders have experienced prolonged periods of incurring net losses, and there's no certainty that they will achieve profitability -- or that earnings will be substantial, for that matter.
Similarly, the ongoing inability to generate profits could produce a trickle-down effect, where businesses must resort to raising capital through the issuance of equity to keep the lights on, resulting in shareholder dilution, or the issuance of debt, which could jeopardize the companies' financial health.
Another risk for 3D printing stocks is the intense competition. By some estimates, there are more than 23,000 3D printing companies operating worldwide. With a fairly low barrier to entry, it's reasonable to speculate that the field will continue to grow in the coming years, possibly posing threats to current businesses.
Criteria for selecting the best 3D printing stocks
When evaluating which 3D printing stocks are good fits for your portfolio, there are some things to bear in mind. For one, investors will want to see that the companies are growing revenue. If a business is failing to grow the top line, it could be a big red flag. Similarly, investors should look for companies that are progressing towards profitability. Just because a company is unprofitable doesn't mean it's not worthy of an investment, but investors should look for movement towards shrinking their net losses.
Similarly, investors will want to see that the companies aren't weighing down their balance sheets with debt to keep the lights on. Many 3D printing companies are still struggling to generate profits. If they're choosing to issue debt to raise capital, it could impede their ability to spend on research and development (R&D) and result in their lagging behind peers in innovations.
Lastly, it's important to see that a 3D printing company retains a competitive advantage over its peers. This could come in a variety of ways, but one, in particular, that is important is strong intellectual property (IP). 3D Systems, for example, has been granted more than 1,000 patents over the past 10 years.
How to invest in 3D printing stocks
Understanding the technology that underlies 3D printing may be hard, but buying 3D printing stocks is easy, requiring only a few basic steps.
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Related investing topics
The future of 3D printing
Manufacturing technology is making inroads throughout the global economy by reducing the cost of production and localizing and speeding up the time it takes to deliver customer orders. This is far from mere hype. Nevertheless, as is the case with all technology investments, progress won't go straight up. Expect twists and turns in these stocks as they develop new methods to design and make products.
If you decide to invest, do so in a measured way. Maintain a diversified portfolio, be wary of stocks benefiting from investor over-optimism, and always leave spare cash to invest more when there are inevitable dips. Given enough time -- years and decades -- investing in 3D printing could eventually provide a big payoff.
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