An updated edition of the May 7, 2026 article.
3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has revolutionized the way products are designed, developed and manufactured. Since its emergence in the 1980s, the technology has evolved from a niche prototyping tool into a technologically advanced manufacturing process that converts digital designs into physical objects layer by layer, enabling high precision, customization and faster production cycles.
3D printing is now being applied across a wide range of end markets, including medical prosthetics, aerospace components, architectural models and consumer products. Companies like Xometry XMTR, Proto Labs PRLB and Stratasys SSYS remain key players in this space.
Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, additive manufacturing reduces material waste and enables production of complex structures that were once difficult, costly or even impossible to produce. Localized production helps shorten supply chains and lower transportation costs, while on-demand manufacturing reduces the need for large inventories. This is especially useful for industries with seasonal demand or urgent replacement-part needs. Companies are thus increasingly turning to 3D printing for rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing driven by its cost advantages and sustainability benefits.
Adoption is gaining across healthcare, aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. In aerospace, the technology is used to produce lightweight yet durable aircraft and spacecraft components. The automotive industry relies on 3D printing for prototyping, tooling and customized parts. In healthcare, it enables the production of patient-specific medical devices and prosthetics, and ongoing progress in tissue and organ printing could significantly influence the future of modern medicine.
North America remains the leading market, accounting for more than 35% of global share due to strong research investments, supportive government policies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Asia-Pacific countries, particularly China and India, are rapidly expanding adoption to strengthen their industrial competitiveness.
We believe 3D Printing presents compelling growth opportunities for investors, supported by an expanding addressable market and a strong innovation pipeline.
Our 3D Printing Screen makes it easy to identify high-potential stocks in this space. Currently, stocks like DuPont de Nemours DD, Proto Labs, AMETEK AME and ATI Inc. ATI look lucrative.
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4 Must-Have 3D Printing Stocks for Your Portfolio
DuPont’s association with 3D printing and additive manufacturing began in the late 1980s, when it developed the Somos solid-imaging business, one of the early material and equipment platforms linked to stereolithography, a foundational 3D-printing process. Although DuPont divested the Somos business in 1999, its early participation positioned it as a notable innovator in the formative years of the additive manufacturing industry. Through the acquisition of Spectrum Plastics Group in 2023, DuPont strengthened its position in complex medical components and advanced manufacturing, including medical additive manufacturing capabilities. Spectrum's strategic focus on key, fast-growing therapeutics areas such as structural heart, electrophysiology, surgical robotics and cardiovascular complemented DuPont's existing offerings for biopharma and pharma processing, medical devices and packaging, including DuPont's Liveo silicone solutions and Tyvek Medical Packaging. Spectrum is currently reported in DuPont’s Healthcare Technologies business within the Healthcare & Water Technologies segment.
Spectrum has developed medical additive manufacturing technologies that utilize proprietary processes and medical-grade materials to create complex, high-resolution components. Its primary additive manufacturing methods include Projection Micro Stereolithography Technology, SLA (Stereolithography), PTTP (Proprietary Thermoplastic Tubing Printing), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), Silicone 3D Printing and Metal SLM (Selective Laser Melting). Its manufacturing capabilities support a broad range of medical-grade thermoplastics. Going forward, DuPont can benefit from the rising demand for customized medical devices, lightweight industrial components, rapid design iteration and high-performance materials that allow additive manufacturing to shift from prototyping into regulated, end-use production.
DuPont currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Proto Labs is widely recognized as the world’s fastest digital manufacturing platform for rapid prototypes and on-demand production parts. Since its inception, it has manufactured more than 700 million parts, catering to more than 300,000 customers.
Initially focused on prototypes and relatively simple components, the company gradually expanded its capabilities to include more complex parts as well as full-scale production. Over time, it broadened the scope of its offerings by increasing the range of sizes and materials available. Proto Labs also strengthened its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including FineLine in 2014 to introduce 3D printing, Alphaform in October 2015 to expand 3D printing services in Europe and RAPID in 2017 to add sheet-metal manufacturing. Through the acquisition of 3D Hubs, Inc., which was rebranded to Protolabs Network in 2021, it provides customers access to a global network of premium manufacturing partners.
The company unveiled ProDesk in February 2026, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled manufacturing platform to accelerate projects from prototyping to production. It features AI-driven manufacturability analysis across injection molding, CNC machining and 3D printing services for instant feedback on parts before they enter production. The platform also allows users to customize quotes based on materials, finishes, secondary operations and lead-time requirements. Through this platform, the company promises an industry-leading online experience that will accelerate product development timelines. PRLB currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1.
AMETEK, through its Specialty Metal Products (SMP) unit, is a leading producer of high-performance metal powders designed for additive manufacturing. It offers a range of alloys and size distributions specific to different additive manufacturing processes, including Laser Powder Bed, Binder Jet and Cold Spray and machines. AME’s most common additive manufacturing powder materials include stainless steel 316L (including A240 grade), Stainless steel 304L and Stainless steel 17-4PH. It also offers specialty austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, as well as a selection of high-quality nickel and cobalt alloy powders that are designed specifically for 3D printing applications.
Backed by more than five decades of expertise, the combination of scale, precision and material science enables the company to deliver reliable, high-quality powders that support consistent performance and cost efficiency in additive manufacturing.
In July 2025, AME acquired Faro Technologies, a leading provider of 3D measurement and imaging solutions. Faro’s offerings included portable measurement arms, laser scanners and trackers, software solutions and comprehensive service offerings serving a diverse range of end markets. This was AMETEK’s largest addition in precision scanning since the acquisition of Creaform in 2013. Creaform is a well-known developer and manufacturer of innovative portable 3D measurement technologies and a provider of 3D engineering services. In October 2024, the company complemented Creaform’s business capabilities with the acquisition of Virtek Vision International, a leading provider of advanced laser-based projection and inspection systems. AME currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
ATI provides a full range of capabilities throughout the additive supply chain, from metal powder and material science to the finished part. ATI Additive Manufacturing is one of the select providers with expertise in both Electron Beam Melting and Powder Bed Fusion, designed for highly demanding and precision-critical performance environments. ATI Additive Manufacturing has been at the forefront of Aerospace additive manufacturing since 2014.
Given its extensive powder metals offering, ATI Additive can quickly respond to customers' needs for their additive part demands. Leveraging ATI’s metallurgical leadership, it can also develop new alloys for additive manufacturing on request or address industry challenges. The company continues to increase its production capacity for advanced metallic powders for use in next-generation aerospace products, including additive manufacturing applications.
ATI has commissioned a state-of-the-art facility for additive manufacturing products, bringing online the most advanced large-format, metal additive manufacturing capabilities in the industry. The facility combines design, printing, heat treating, machining and inspection capabilities under one roof. From design to finished product, the company has created a one-stop solution center to address challenges in high-performance markets like aerospace, defense and space. ATI currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
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