Staples, Inc. (SPLS), RadioShack Corporation (RSH): Are There Other Ways to Take Advantage of the 3D Printing Market?

Conclusions

If you want to invest in a retail company to take advantage of the increasing popularity of 3D printing, Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) is the way to go. While RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) may see a slight increase in electronics sales from 3D printing hobbyists, it’s unlikely that the profits from the components will compete with those from full 3D printers. Staples also has the advantage of allowing consumers to see the printers in-store and ready to use, eliminating the entry barriers put in place by hobby printer construction.

GE might be a better overall investment than Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS), however. It is a highly diverse company that could use 3D printing in a number of ways, and stands to profit significantly from the use of 3D printing in the construction of jet engines and other heavy equipment. There has even been some speculation that the company could acquire another 3D printing company in the future to reduce outsourcing costs and add additional revenue streams to its diversity.

As for Autodesk, it’s not the company to go for if you want to benefit from 3D printing. Its products are popular in engineering, animation and game design, but the popularity of 3D printing isn’t likely to fuel additional sales.

John Casteele has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric Company, RadioShack, and Staples.

The article Are There Other Ways to Take Advantage of the 3D Printing Market? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by John Casteele.

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