An updated edition of the August 19, 2025 article.3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has transformed how the world designs and builds products. The technology, introduced in the 1980s, converts digital designs into physical objects by building them layer by layer, ensuring unprecedented precision, customization and efficiency. Over the years, from custom prosthetics and aerospace components to architectural models and consumer goods, 3D Printing has evolved from a prototyping tool to a full- ...

Industry Overview - 3D Printing, or additive manufacturing, is a transformative technology that creates physical objects from digital designs by layering materials with high precision, significantly changing product design and manufacturing since the 1980s [1] - The technology is gaining traction across various sectors, including healthcare, aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods, due to its ability to produce complex shapes and reduce supply chain costs [3][4] Market Growth - The global 3D Printing market is projected to grow from $24.61 billion in 2024 to $29.29 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach $134.6 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 18.52% [6] - The healthcare 3D Printing market is anticipated to increase from $1.66 billion in 2024 to $1.96 billion by the end of the year, with projections to exceed $8.71 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 18% [5] Regional Insights - North America currently leads the 3D Printing market with over 35% share, followed closely by Asia Pacific at 30%, with strong growth expected in the U.S. market at a CAGR of 19.18% from 2025 to 2034 [7] Key Players - Xometry, Proto Labs Inc., and Stratasys, Ltd. are recognized as leaders in the 3D Printing space, capitalizing on the technology's advantages in cost, customization, precision, and sustainability [2] - GE Aerospace has made significant investments in additive manufacturing, enhancing fuel efficiency in its engines by 10% to 15% through 3D-printed components [11][12][13] - PTC's Creo software is designed to optimize product development in 3D printing, offering advanced capabilities for manufacturers [15][16] - Carpenter Technology has developed its additive manufacturing capabilities through strategic acquisitions and is recognized for its versatile metal powder production [17][18][19] - Proto Labs is noted for its rapid prototyping and on-demand production capabilities, generating approximately $84 million in revenue from its 3D Printing services in 2024 [22] - 3D Systems provides a wide range of 3D printing solutions and has made strides in digital dentistry and bioprinting, collaborating on projects with NASA [23][24][25][26]

Core Insights - Proto Labs reported record GAAP revenue of $135.1 million for Q2 2025, exceeding analyst expectations of $128.0 million, with non-GAAP earnings per share at $0.41, surpassing the estimate of $0.35 [1][2][5] Financial Performance - Revenue (GAAP) increased by 7.6% year-over-year from $125.6 million in Q2 2024 to $135.1 million in Q2 2025 [2] - Non-GAAP earnings per share rose by 7.9% from $0.38 in Q2 2024 to $0.41 in Q2 2025 [2] - Gross margin (Non-GAAP) decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 44.8%, while operating margin (Non-GAAP) fell slightly to 8.6% [2][7] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.1% from $19.3 million in Q2 2024 to $19.7 million in Q2 2025 [2][7] Business Model and Strategy - Proto Labs operates a digital manufacturing platform that utilizes advanced software and automation to produce custom parts, fulfilling orders through in-house factories and a global partner network [3] - The company is focused on expanding its global manufacturing network, enhancing customer engagement, and adapting to trends like faster product cycles and e-commerce-driven sourcing [4] Segment Performance - CNC Machining services saw a significant growth of 20.9% year-over-year, while revenue from the Protolabs Network increased by 18.6% [5][10] - Injection Molding revenue declined by 3.4% year-over-year, attributed to nonrecurring large part orders in Q1 2024 [6] - Sheet Metal services experienced a revenue growth of 9.7% [6] Customer Engagement and Financial Health - Revenue per customer contact increased by 10.9% year-over-year, although the number of customer contacts decreased by 3% [8] - The company repurchased $24.0 million of common stock in the first half of 2025, with cash and investments rising to $123.2 million and no debt on the balance sheet [8] Regional Performance - U.S. revenue grew by 12.4% year-over-year, while European revenues declined by 10.1%, or 14.9% when adjusted for currency fluctuations [11] Cost Management and Operational Efficiency - Operating expenses increased due to higher spending on sales, marketing, and general administration, impacting the gap between GAAP and Non-GAAP earnings [12] - The closure of a German molding facility is part of a strategy to align capacity with market demand [12] Future Outlook - For Q3 2025, the company projects GAAP revenue between $130.0 million and $138.0 million, with non-GAAP earnings per share expected to range from $0.35 to $0.43 [14]

Financial Performance - Q2 2025 - Revenue reached $135.1 million, a 6.5% increase year-over-year (YoY)[16, 17] - Non-GAAP EPS increased to $0.41, a 10.3% rise YoY[19, 20] - Revenue fulfilled through the Protolabs Network increased by 16% YoY in constant currencies, reaching $29.3 million[21] - Revenue increased 7% sequentially from Q1 2025[21] Revenue by Service - Q2 2025 (YoY in constant currencies) - Injection Molding revenue decreased by 4% to $47.4 million[23] - 3D Printing revenue decreased by 1% to $21.2 million[24] - Sheet Metal revenue increased by 9% to $4.3 million[25] - CNC Machining revenue increased by 20% to $61.9 million[27] Q3 2025 Outlook - Revenue is projected to be between $130 million and $138 million[33] - Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.35 to $0.43[33] - Foreign currency is expected to have an approximately $0.4 million favorable impact on Q3 2025 revenue[35] Additional Metrics - Customer contacts using combined offer in LTM up nearly 45% YoY[5] - Revenue per customer contact in Q2 2025 grew 11% YoY[5] - 100% of Fortune 500 Companies Served in Aerospace + Defense[9]

Industry Overview - 3D Printing, or additive manufacturing, is a transformative technology that creates physical objects from digital designs by layering materials with high precision, significantly impacting manufacturing processes since the 1980s [2] - The technology offers advantages over traditional manufacturing, including cost efficiency, customization, precision, and sustainability [2][4] Market Growth - The global 3D Printing market is projected to grow from $24.61 billion in 2024 to $29.29 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach $134.6 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 18.52% [7] - The healthcare 3D Printing market is anticipated to grow from $1.66 billion in 2024 to $1.96 billion in 2025, potentially exceeding $8.71 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 18% [6] Regional Insights - North America currently leads the 3D Printing market with over 35% share, followed closely by Asia Pacific at 30% [8] - The U.S. 3D printing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.18% from 2025 to 2034 [8] Key Players - Leading companies in the 3D Printing space include Xometry, Proto Labs Inc., and Stratasys, which are embracing the technology for rapid prototyping and on-demand production [3] - Carpenter Technology, ATI Inc., GE Aerospace, and L3Harris Technologies are highlighted as promising stocks in the 3D Printing sector, each with unique capabilities and market positions [9][11][14][17][20] Sector Applications - 3D Printing is gaining traction in various sectors, including healthcare, aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods, enabling the production of lightweight components, personalized medical tools, and complex designs [5][4] - In aerospace, 3D Printing is used for manufacturing durable aircraft components, while in automotive, it aids in producing prototypes and customized parts [5] Technological Advancements - The technology allows for the use of lighter and stronger materials, minimizes waste, and enables faster production cycles, which traditional methods cannot achieve [4] - Companies like GE Aerospace have integrated 3D Printing into their production processes, resulting in significant improvements in fuel efficiency for jet engines [18][19]

Financial Performance - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $126.2 million, a decrease of 10% year-over-year[18, 19] - Non-GAAP EPS for Q1 2025 was $033, a decrease of $007 year-over-year, driven by lower volume and increased OpEx[21, 22] - Revenue fulfilled through the Protolabs Network was $263 million, up 115% year-over-year in constant currencies[23] - Q1 2025 revenue increased 4% sequentially[23] - Non-GAAP Gross Margin decreased by 80 bps year-over-year to 448%[31, 49] - Non-GAAP Operating Margin decreased by 210 bps year-over-year to 74%[31, 50] Revenue by Service - Injection Molding revenue decreased by 7% year-over-year to $487 million in constant currencies[25] - 3D Printing revenue decreased by 6% year-over-year to $202 million in constant currencies[26] - Sheet Metal revenue increased by 19% year-over-year to $42 million in constant currencies[27] - CNC Machining revenue increased to $528 million from $499 million year-over-year[29] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Operating Cash Flow for Q1 2025 was $184 million[32] - Capital Expenditures for Q1 2025 were $13 million[32] - Share Repurchases for Q1 2025 were $209 million[32] - Cash and Investments totaled $1163 million[32] - Debt remained at $0[32] Q2 2025 Outlook - Revenue is projected to be between $124 million and $132 million[35] - Non-GAAP EPS is projected to be between $030 and $038[35] - Foreign currency is expected to have an approximately $03 million favorable impact on Q2 2025 revenue[37]

Industry Overview - 3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has evolved since the 1980s, revolutionizing manufacturing processes by allowing the creation of three-dimensional objects layer by layer from digital designs [2] - The technology offers advantages over traditional manufacturing, including cost-effectiveness, customization, precision, and sustainability [2] - The global 3D Printing market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.4%, reaching $19.33 billion by 2024 [7] Market Segmentation - The healthcare sector is expected to see a CAGR of 17.5% from 2024 to 2029, with the market estimated at $1.17 billion in 2024 [6] - North America holds the largest share of the 3D Printing market at 41.4% in 2024, while Asia-Pacific is leading in healthcare 3D Printing growth [6][7] Key Players - Xometry, Proto Labs Inc., and Stratasys, Ltd. are identified as top players in the 3D Printing space [3] - NVIDIA has significantly influenced the industry through advanced AI and GPU technologies, enhancing various facets of additive manufacturing [10] - GE Aerospace has been a pioneer in additive manufacturing since the 1980s, producing complex components for jet engines and increasing fuel efficiency [16][17] Technological Advancements - NVIDIA's partnership with HP's 3D Printing division has led to improved efficiency and accuracy in manufacturing processes [11] - GE Aerospace's use of 3D Printing has resulted in a 10% increase in fuel efficiency for the GE9X engine compared to its predecessor [17] - Proto Labs has expanded its capabilities with advanced photopolymers technology, generating around $84 million in revenues from its 3D Printing service in 2024 [26] Investment Opportunities - Companies like NVIDIA, GE Aerospace, Carpenter Technology, and Proto Labs are highlighted as lucrative investment opportunities due to their strong growth prospects in the 3D Printing sector [8][19][22][26]