3D Printing Profits, Layer by Layer

Table of Contents

• The Reason

• Why This Drives Growth

• How It Works

• Industries Already Using 3D Printing

• Where Adoption is Headed Next

• Cast of Characters

  • The ETF

  • Pure-Play 3D Printing Stocks

  • Nick’s Picks for the 3D Sector in order:

The Reason

When interest rates are cut, money tends to flow into industrial companies and smaller growth orientated businesses. These are often some of the first beneficiaries of cheaper borrowing costs and looser financial conditions.

Now, if the U.S. is serious about reshoring manufacturing and limiting its reliance on immigration to fill labor gaps, then one technology becomes essential: 3D printing.

Why? Because 3D printing enables distributed, scalable manufacturing. Making it possible to create complex, customized parts quickly, cost-effectively, and right where they’re needed. This capability improves efficiency while it also reshapes entire supply chains, reduces risks, and allows for innovations that traditional simply manufacturing can’t deliver.

Why This Drives Growth

Think about what businesses need most today: speed, flexibility, and resilience. 3D printing helps in all three.

• On-demand production and local manufacturing: Instead of waiting weeks for shipments from overseas, companies can make parts near the point of use. This cuts down on lead times, lowers transportation costs, and reduces the need for excess inventory.

• Complex and custom part manufacturing: Industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and automotive increasingly require specialized designs. 3D printing allows for customization at scale, giving each industry a competitive edge.

• Advances in materials and automation: With new metals, bio-based plastics, and even AI-driven optimization, 3D printing is expanding beyond simple prototypes into critical, high-performance applications.

• Supply chain resilience: In a world where disruptions are common, a distributed production model makes manufacturing more adaptable and reliable.

In short, 3D printing is not just about making things differently, it’s about making industries stronger, faster, and more innovative.

How It Works

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, builds objects layer by layer from a digital design.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. A design is created using 3D modeling software.

2. That design is “sliced” into thin horizontal layers and translated into printer instructions (called G-code).

3. The printer then deposits material (plastic, resin, metal, or powder) layer by layer onto a build platform.

4. Each layer bonds to the one below until the full object is complete.

The key advantage here? Less waste, faster turnaround, and the ability to manufacture shapes that traditional methods can’t produce.

Industries Already Using 3D Printing

• Aerospace: Lightweight, high-strength metal parts and rapid prototyping.

• Medical/Healthcare: Implants, prosthetics, dental devices, and surgical models.

• Automotive: Custom components, tooling, and prototyping.

• Industrial Manufacturing: Fixtures, machine components, and low-volume production parts.

• Consumer Goods: Jewelry, eyewear, and custom small-batch products.

Where Adoption is Headed Next

• Construction: Houses, infrastructure, and large-scale components made directly by 3D printers.

• Healthcare/Bioprinting: Tissue engineering, organ printing, and personalized medicine.

• Aerospace & Defense: Mission-critical components for aircraft and unmanned systems.

• Electronics: Printed circuit boards and micro-devices.

• Energy & Utilities: Complex turbine parts and offshore construction solutions.

Cast of Characters

We just saw a monumental year in nuclear energy stocks, and 3D printing may follow a similar trajectory. As this theme develops, it’s wise to get familiar with the major players. They’re likely to be at the center of one of the most important growth stories of the next decade.

The ETF

$PRNT ( ▼ 0.11% ) - ARK 3D Printing ETF

Pure-Play 3D Printing Stocks

$SSYS ( ▲ 4.43% ) - Stratasys Ltd: A leader in industrial 3D printing, Stratasys serves the aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and education sectors. The company specializes in advanced printers and materials designed for high-precision, high-performance applications. Making it one of the foundational names to watch in this space.

$962.41M Market Cap

$DDD ( ▲ 2.16% ) - 3D Systems Corporation (DDD) – The original inventor of stereolithography (the first commercial 3D printing process), 3D Systems serves both industrial and medical markets. Its portfolio spans surgical planning tools, dental solutions, and industrial-grade printers, making it a key innovator across multiple fields.

$379.63M Market Cap

Under $2, and I no longer want to own this one.

$NNDM ( 0.0% ) - Nano Dimension (NNDM) – Specializes in electronics printing, including circuit boards and sensors. Nano Dimension has been building scale through acquisitions, most notably buying Desktop Metal (formerly $DM ( ▲ 1.02% )  ), a leader in metal-based 3D printing for automotive and industrial sectors, and Markforged (formerly $MKFG ( ▼ 0.42% )  ), which focuses on industrial 3D printers powered by its Digital Forge cloud platform. Together, these acquisitions give Nano Dimension a broader footprint across electronics, metals, and industrial applications.

$347.20M Market Cap

$PRLB ( ▲ 2.37% ) - Proto Labs Inc. – Focused on rapid prototyping and on-demand digital manufacturing, Proto Labs enables businesses to move from idea to physical product in record time. Its services bridge the gap between design and production, making it a critical partner for startups and established manufacturers alike.

$1.19B Market Cap

$MTLS ( ▲ 0.53% ) - Materialise NV – A leader in additive manufacturing software and services, Materialise provides the digital infrastructure that powers 3D printing. From design optimization to workflow management, its technology helps manufacturers scale and integrate 3D printing into everyday production.

$328.41M Market Cap

$VELO ( ▲ 1.72% ) - Velo3D – A recently re-issued stock given a lifeline from SpaceX, Highly speculative, but lines up with the right time and place for something like this to work. Velo3D specializes in advanced metal 3D printing for industrial applications, particularly aerospace. However, the company recently faced financial stress and risk of bankruptcy and has since re-organized. Its largest early investor, SpaceX, stepped in with an $8 million licensing and service agreement to keep operations going. While this underscores both Velo3D’s technological value and financial fragility, it also highlights the strategic importance of its technology for industries like space and defense.

$59.7M Market Cap

$XMTR ( ▲ 1.86% ) - Xometry, Inc. – Operates an on-demand manufacturing marketplace that includes 3D printing alongside CNC machining, injection molding, and other processes. Xometry connects customers directly with a global network of manufacturers, making it one of the most important platforms bridging industrial demand with additive manufacturing supply.

$2.84B Market Cap

***When investing in growth stocks, it’s important to recognize that secondary offerings, when a company issues additional shares, are a normal and expected part of the process.

Yes, these offerings dilute the value of the shares already in circulation, which can feel discouraging in the short term. But they serve a vital purpose: raising the capital companies need to fund operations, expand their business, and move closer to profitability.

Think of it this way: for growth companies, issuing more shares is like fueling the engine before the car can run on its own. Instead of viewing it as a red flag, expect it as a natural stage in the journey of a company that’s still building its foundation.

Nick’s Picks for the 3D Sector in order:

1. SSYS

2. DDD

3. PRLB

4. NNDM

5. MTLS

The overwhelming odds are that one good stock pick won’t retire you early. However, stacking up a few good winners while learning and improving along the way can help provide a few extra perks in life. But the key to that is to stay in the game, so trade responsibly if you choose to partake.

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