Are 3D printing stocks suitable for long-term investment?

Since it's still relatively early for the 3D printing industry, taking a long-term approach to investments in these stocks is a smart approach that allows time for the industry to mature.

How do 3D printing stocks perform during economic downturns?

Like many businesses, 3D printing companies can suffer during times of economic distress. Customers may push back orders to later dates in favor of holding onto cash and ensuring their financial health until the downturn recedes.

How can investors stay updated on 3D printing trends?

Monitoring the quarterly financial reports of 3D printing companies is a great way to stay informed about the latest trends emerging in the industry. Of course, following The Motley Fool's coverage on 3D printing stocks is another excellent strategy for investors interested in the space.

Are 3D printing stocks considered tech stocks?

Yes, most 3D printing stocks are found in the tech sector, which encompasses a wide variety of companies such as those that manufacture gadgets, software developers, and businesses providing cloud computing services.

Can 3D printing stocks provide passive income?

Because most 3D printing stocks are unprofitable, they don't generate sufficient cash to return to shareholders, so investors looking for passive income opportunities should consider other investment options.

Best 3D Printing Stocks to Buy in 2026

3D printing stocks are shares of companies that make 3D printers, materials, or provide printing services. The industry, also called additive manufacturing, boomed in the early 2010s, then cooled as hype outpaced results.

But 3D printing is far from dead. Today it’s a fast-growing niche reshaping manufacturing. The market was valued at $19.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2032. Here’s what investors should know about 3D printing stocks.

Top 3D printing stocks to consider

Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price	Market cap	Industry
Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM)	$1.64	$377.5 million	Machinery
Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS)	$8.01	$669.2 million	Machinery
Xometry (NASDAQ:XMTR)	$37.32	$1.9 billion	Trading Companies and Distributors
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD)	$2.43	$353.5 million	Machinery
PTC (NASDAQ:PTC)	$156.00	$18.6 billion	Software

Data as of Mar 16, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 tickers.

1. Nano Dimension

NASDAQ: NNDM

Nano Dimension

Today's Change

(-5.75%) $-0.10

Current Price

$1.64

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$377M

Day's Range

$1.62 - $1.76

52wk Range

$1.31 - $2.32

Volume

Avg Vol

2.7M

Gross Margin

31.72%

Since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2016, Nano Dimension (NNDM -5.75%) has provided investors with an opportunity to invest in a 3D printing company that specializes in the additive manufacturing of electronics, as well as ceramics and metals. Its product portfolio grew even more robust with the acquisition of 3D printing peer Desktop Metal -- an all-cash transaction that had been slowed by litigation but seems poised to move forward. Nano Dimension further strengthened its position with the $116 million acquisition of Markforged in April 2025. According to management, the transaction provides Nano Dimension with "a strong foothold in metal and composite manufacturing solutions and a leap forward in AI-enhanced manufacturing."

As its name implies, Desktop Metal develops 3D printing hardware and accompanying design software for metal and carbon fiber parts. The company's smaller systems can handle prototyping and one-off parts, and larger printers are production-grade-designed for manufacturing facilities. Desktop Metal serves companies operating in automotive, consumer goods, and heavy industrial equipment businesses.

Management contended in an investor presentation that as a result of acquiring Desktop Metal, Nano Dimension will become the "first AM [additive manufacturing] provider covering the full gamut of customer needs from prototyping to production across a range of critical and high-performance applications."

In the third quarter of 2025, Nano Dimension reported revenue of $26.9 million, a whopping 81% year-over-year increase. At the bottom of the income statement, the company reported a $29.5 million net loss, which it largely attributed to the integration of Markforged.

2. Stratasys

NASDAQ: SSYS

Stratasys

Today's Change

(1.72%) $0.14

Current Price

$8.01

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$669M

Day's Range

$7.80 - $8.04

52wk Range

$7.80 - $12.81

Volume

21K

Avg Vol

1.1M

Gross Margin

42.45%

Stratasys (SSYS +1.72%) was part of the early 2010s 3D printing stock boom and bust, but its business has endured. Currently, management is looking to strengthen the company's financial health with a cost-savings initiative that is showing success. In the third quarter of 2025, Stratasys reported an adjusted net income margin of 1.1%, an expansion from the 0.3% adjusted net income margin it reported during the same period in 2024.

Stratasys serves a diverse set of customers, including aerospace and automotive parts manufacturers, medical and dental companies, and makers of basic consumer products. And these relationships aren't superficial either. Stratsys has a partnership with General Motors (GM +0.65%) that has lasted over two decades.

The company took a major step in diversifying its offerings in November 2025, when it began a partnership with Tritone Technologies -- a collaboration that diversifies Stratasys' business to now offer industrial metal 3D printing solutions. In addition to a wide array of 3D printer models, Stratasys develops software to help users accelerate the time between design and final printing.

It isn't the highest-growth name on this list, but the company expects stronger operating cash flow in 2025, and its balance sheet remains strong, boasting a net cash position of $255 million as of Sept. 30, 2025.

3. Xometry

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NASDAQ: XMTR

Xometry

Today's Change

(1.08%) $0.40

Current Price

$37.32

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.9B

Day's Range

$36.56 - $38.11

52wk Range

$18.59 - $73.87

Volume

32K

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

36.56%

One of the younger 3D printing stocks on the list, Xometry (XMTR +1.14%), completed its initial public offering (IPO) over the summer of 2021, raising almost $350 million in cash in the process.

Xometry is a marketplace for on-demand manufacturing of prototyping and mass production. It has a network of more than 4,375 suppliers that companies can call on to meet their fabrication needs. Among the suppliers on the Xometry platform are 3D printing companies, injection molding, and automated machining. The company reported having more than 78,000 active buyers utilizing its platform at the end of the third quarter 2025, a 21% year-over-year increase.

Although it isn't profitable yet, Xometry's unique approach to the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry is growing fast. From 2021 to 2024, the number of customers with accounts that have spent more than $50,000 during the prior 12-month period grew at a 28% CAGR.

Another indication of the company's success is its achievement of record quarterly revenue -- $181 million -- in Q3 2025. And it wasn't only the top of the income statement, where the company impressed. Xometry also reported a record quarterly gross profit of $72 million, representing a more than 29% year-over-year increase.

4. 3D Systems

NYSE: DDD

3D Systems

Today's Change

(0.41%) $0.01

Current Price

$2.43

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$353M

Day's Range

$2.41 - $2.56

52wk Range

$1.32 - $3.80

Volume

Avg Vol

3.7M

Gross Margin

33.54%

3D Systems (DDD +0.41%) was another early player in the 3D printing industry, and while it suffered through the boom-and-bust period of the early 2010s, its business has held steady for much of the past decade.

The company develops printers and design software for all sorts of materials and industries (medical device makers, dental labs, semiconductor designers, aerospace, and automotive manufacturers). It claims leadership among independent 3D printing companies (as measured by sales). As the 3D printing industry expands in the coming years, 3D Systems thinks it will be able to attract lots of new business with its extensive experience and global reach.

As an established tech outfit in the manufacturing sector, 3D Systems offers investors the prospect of more stable growth, along with profitability. In early 2025, management revealed a cost-saving initiative that is expected to produce annualized savings of $50 million in expenses. There are signs that the initiative is bearing fruit. Through the first three quarters of 2025, 3D Systems reported $171.7 million in operating expenses compared to $376.8 million during the same period in 2024. Management projects further improvements, forecasting operating expenses in the low $40 million range at the end of 2025.

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5. PTC

NASDAQ: PTC

PTC

Today's Change

(0.07%) $0.11

Current Price

$156.00

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$19B

Day's Range

$155.19 - $157.90

52wk Range

$133.38 - $219.69

Volume

49K

Avg Vol

1.1M

Gross Margin

82.60%

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Investing in 3D Printing Stocks FAQ

About the Author

Scott Levine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, technology, and materials. He is also a high school English teacher and a small business owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Adelphi University, and an advanced certificate in school building leadership from CUNY Queens College. A crossword puzzle enthusiast, he has solved more than 3,100 New York Times puzzles with a 97% solve rate.

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Scott Levine has positions in 3D Systems. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes Se, HP, Microsoft, PTC, Stratasys, and Xometry. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems, General Motors, and Trimble. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.