Due to its superior presence in the industrial market, and a strong market share, Stratasys (SSYS) has outperformed 3D Systems (DDD) in every way this year. Although Stratasys is down 5% this year, it still has strong prospects and has delivered better quarterly reports than its rivals. On the other hand, 3D Systems has plunged almost 60% in 2014 and has lowered its guidance twice in the span of a few months. The company didn't satisfy the analysts estimates in the previous quarter and has been subjected to multiple downgrades in the past few weeks. Therefore, I think Stratasys is the best bet for investors looking to profit from the 3D printing industry. Let's take a look at the reasons why I think Stratasys will perform nicely in the long run.
Optimistic analysts
The stock was upgraded by several analysts firms like Morgan Stanley and Stephens in the last few months. Analysts at Gartner said Stratasys has an advantage over its peers and the shipment of 3D printers is poised to more than double every year from 2015 to 2018. Gartner expects overall end-user spending on 3D printers to grow from $1.6 billion in 2015 to $13.4 billion in 2018.
Advantages
Stratasys should do nicely in the future as it has a robust position in the industrial 3D printing sector. While the company concentrates on the industrial 3D printing business sector, different organizations are going for the consumer market, which is yet to receive this have a huge impact. The company, in Q1, proclaimed its new frameworks called Objet500 and Connex3, Color Multi-material 3D printer. This is the first and last 3D printer to join shade and multi-material 3D and gimmicks an extraordinary triple plane innovation that permits the client to consolidate color with different consolidations of adaptability and transparency.
Great initiatives
The Stratasys-Objet merger yielded great revenue growth. The acquisition of Makerbot, an organization officially heading internationally in the 3D printing market, has also helped Stratasys. Makerbot increased Stratasys' share in the overall consumer sector, likewise adding to its productivity, which will turn out to be advantageous for its long haul development.
The Makerbot stage incorporates three new fifth era Makerbot replicator 3D printers - the Makerbot Replicator Desktop 3D printer, Makerbot Replicator Mini Compact 3D printer, and Makerbot Replicator Z18 3D printer. The Makerbot Replicator Mini won the CES 2014 Editors' Choice Award from Popular Mechanics, the CES 2014 Best in Show honor by Digital Trends and Zdnet and was named the Best of CES 2014.
Conclusion
Given the factors mentioned above, Stratasys is set to dominate the 3D printing industry. The company has performed very nicely this year and has a strong presence in the industrial sector. The company is also expanding its footprints in the customer segment as well. Thus, I think Stratasys is the best pick in the 3D printing industry.
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kurhan/Shutterstock The maker of a line of diet supplements sold at the nation's largest pharmacies with the false promise that the pills would magically make users slender (they didn't) was banned -- at least, for now -- from selling weight loss products under a just-finalized agreement, the Federal Trade Commission said on Friday. HealthyLife Sciences and its principal sold Healthe Trim supplements with the claim you could "get high school skinny." Apparently, it only worked as advertised if its users had never gained weight after graduation. John Matthew Dwyer III (aka Matthew Dyer), the co-founder of the Atlanta-based company, agreed to stay out of the weight-loss industry under the terms of the settlement of deceptive advertising charges. Dwyer claimed the pills had ingredients that combined to burn fat, speed up the metabolism and suppress appetite. No Penalty, No Restitution The FTC said the company took in about $76 million between 2009 and 2013. Healthe Trim supplements were sold at CVS (CVS), Walgreens (WAG) and at GNC (GNC) stores. It cost consumers who bought into the spiel $50 to $65 for a month's supply, the FTC said. The key to the sales were customer testimonials featuring claims that, for example, using the pills helped one user to drop 54 pounds and go from a size 12 dress to a size 2. "Losing weight is rarely easy, and it would be a miracle if a pill made it so," Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. "Consumers should be skeptical when a product like this one claims to make weight loss easy." The company itself (if it continues to operate without Dwyer) is barred from making a host of what the FTC describes as "scientifically infeasible" claims about its supplements. And it can no longer make any weight-loss-related claims at all about them until it has in hand two legitimate, scientifically rigorous human clinical-trial studies to support its statements. Unlike many settlements of this type, there is no financial penalty and no provision for consumer restitution. More from Mitch Lipka
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