3D printing stocks are like exquisite diamonds unearthed from the mining shaft. They may have lost some of their former shine due to the capital-intensive and low-margin nature of the industry, but hidden within the crevices are three companies paving a new path in the digital world.
Altair Engineering (ALTR)
The first gem, Altair Engineering (NASDAQ:ALTR), offers a unique allure with its focus on cutting-edge software, essential for intricate engineering tasks demanding nanometer precision. Bouncing back impressively in the fourth quarter, Altair recorded a remarkable $155.9 million in software revenue, showcasing a 7.5% increase year-over-year (YoY).
Despite grappling with early-year setbacks, Altair’s full-year performance surpassed expectations, with a substantial YoY increase in software sales to $550 million. The company’s net loss dwindled, closing the year on a more positive note compared to the previous fiscal year. While the shares are yet to reach analyst targets, lingering around $88.71 per share, Altair Engineering gleams with potential.
Desktop Metal (DM)
Picture the second gem, Desktop Metal (NYSE:DM), shining brightly albeit in the realm of small-cap stocks. With a market capitalization of a mere $280 million, this penny stock radiates promise. Desktop Metal’s healthcare subsidiary, Desktop Health, unveiled ScanUp, a game-changing digital platform for dental professionals targeting the vast untapped market in the dental industry.
Inching closer to profitability with a reduced net loss in 2023, Desktop Metal’s journey remains a high-risk, high-reward adventure. Priced attractively at under $1 per share, this 3D printing stock offers a tantalizing investment opportunity for the risk-takers.
Autodesk (ADSK)
Autodesk: Powering Innovation Beyond 3D Printing
A Diversified Avenue in the Market
Steering clear of the narrow chasm of 3D printing singularity, Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) glimmers like a multifaceted gem in the realm of market capitalization. Unlike its counterparts, Autodesk doesn’t tether its fortunes to the precarious perch of a singular industry. The company’s repertoire wraps around various revenue streams, rivals, or even outplays, the fierce and focused players in the 3D printing domain.
Tools Transcending Boundaries
Embracing not just the digital corridors but also the tangible avenues, Autodesk’s 3D modeling tools dazzle like a maestro orchestrating a symphony. While akin to its peer, Altair, in digital model design and testing, Autodesk’s Fusion 360 platform ventures a step further to join hands with printers and manifests the digital dreams into physical embodiments. But the marvel doesn’t cease there; Autodesk’s toolbox extends to subtractive finishing, delicately refining engineering marvels with bespoke quality and finesse.
Realm of Opportunities
Beneath the veneer of Autodesk lies a treasure trove of possibilities waiting to be unraveled. Investors, seeking to behold a sliver of the vaunted promise of 3D printing while hedging their bets against the capricious currents of singular sector investments, find solace in the stock of Autodesk. Not merely confined to the realms of 3D printing enthusiasts, Autodesk’s software suite caters to a spectrum spanning construction, entertainment, education, and engineering domains, casting a wide net over diverse clientele segments.
