Top 3D Printing Stocks to Buy for Strong Long-Term Potential

Since its emergence in the 1980s, the technology has evolved beyond its early use in prototyping into a technologically advanced manufacturing process. 3D Printing is gaining traction 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 considered impossible to produce. It enables localized production, thus shortening supply chains and lowering transportation costs. On-demand manufacturing reduces the need for large inventories, which is especially useful for industries with seasonal demand or urgent replacement-part needs. Companies are thus increasingly adopting 3D printing 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 Proto Labs, Stratasys, AMETEK AME, ATI Inc. ATI and Carpenter Technology CRS look lucrative. 

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5 Must-Have 3D Printing Stocks for Your Portfolio

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. 

Originally focused on prototypes and simpler components, Protolabs has expanded into complex parts and full-scale production. Strategic acquisitions have also strengthened its capabilities, 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.

In February 2026, the company launched ProDesk, 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. 

Proto Labs is also positioning itself to capitalize on the expected surge in growth in the global drone market driven by rising aerospace and defense spending and expanding commercial applications. The company has expanded manufacturing capabilities and offers quick-turn CNC machining for end-use metal and plastic parts with tighter tolerances, greater precision and broader functional and cosmetic finishes, along with advanced 3D printing technologies that enable drone manufacturers greater design freedom to produce lightweight components that meet strict performance requirements. PRLB currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Stratasys has been leading the global shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for various industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. 

Stratasys is expanding its portfolio through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Earlier this year, it collaborated with industrial metal 3D printing company Tritone Technologies. Tritone’s MoldJet technology, a breakthrough metal and ceramic additive manufacturing process, complements Stratasys’ polymer jetting expertise and advances its position as a comprehensive, end-to-end provider of a broad range of AM solutions

SSYS has inked a deal to acquire MarkForged, Inc., a leading provider of end-to-end Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) solutions. The transaction is expected to close later this year. By leveraging Continuous Carbon Fiber technology, MarkForged enables industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, and food and beverage to produce parts that are both lighter and stronger than traditional FFF alternatives. 

Stratasys also continues to expand its portfolio of additive manufacturing solutions to cater to multiple industries with the introduction of new software and materials.  It helps solve real challenges manufacturers face when adopting or scaling additive manufacturing. The company recently launched FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR, a new flame-retardant composite material designed to enable rail and transportation manufacturers to produce certified end-use parts and critical spare parts.  The company was also recently recognized for the Eyelid Surgery Training Model, developed in collaboration with Addion. As Europe’s first 3D-printed anatomical eye model for eyelid surgery training, the solution underscores the impact of Stratasys’ Digital Anatomy technology in enabling realistic, repeatable, and scalable medical education.  In March, Stratasys’ TrueDent resins received CE marking as a Class IIa medical device, making them Europe’s first high-esthetic, monolithic 3D-printed denture solution to achieve certification in the more than $2 billion market.

The company is also benefiting from rising adoption of additive manufacturing in defense. Its parts-on-demand business, Stratasys Direct, has been selected for the U.S. Department of War’s (DoW) Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) IV Pilot Parts Program, a multimillion-dollar initiative to accelerate qualification and deployment of 3D-printed parts across military platforms and systems. In 2025, Stratasys saw double-digit annual revenue growth from aerospace and defense. Stratasys Direct already ships more than 100,000 parts annually to the defense industry, and programs like JAMA will accelerate qualification of parts so organizations can deploy them faster across operational platforms.

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 includes 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 of 2.

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.

Carpenter Technology formed the Carpenter Additive business unit in May 2019. The company has been building its additive capabilities through the acquisitions of LPW Technology Ltd., Puris and CalRAM over the past few years. In late 2019, CRS opened its Emerging Technology Center in Athens, AL, capable of atomizing a range of specialty alloys into metal powder and manufacturing the powder into finished parts using AM technology (3D Metal Printing). The downstream equipment for transforming the initially produced part into a final finished product included the state-of-the-art quick-cooling Hot Isostatic Press system, as well as vacuum heat treating to optimize the material properties of high-value specialty alloy components.

The Carpenter Additive business is one of the world's most versatile producers of spherical, gas-atomized, pre-alloyed metal powders and consolidated powder metallurgy products. The powders meet the unique demands of additive manufacturing, metal injection molding, hot isostatic pressing, near-net shapes, surface enhancement processes and tool steels.

Starting from powder production to manufacturing and finishing parts, the end-to-end capabilities differentiate Carpenter Additive from the rest of the industry. CRS currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. 

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