Stock Market Highlights: 3D Printing Stocks, Analyst Upgrades & More

General Electric Purchase Sends 3D Printer Stocks Racing Higher

General Electric Company (NYSE:GE)‘s $1.4 billion collective purchase of two European 3-D printing companies, Arcam AB and SLM Solutions Group AG, has sent 3D printing stocks 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) and Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) racing higher today. SLM Solutions and Arcam produce machines that print components for aircraft turbines and other parts. GE is buying the companies because CEO Immelt feels that 3D printing ‘will drive new levels of productivity for GE including an array of additive manufacturing customers, and for the industrial world’. Traders have bid up 3D Systems and Stratasys because GE’s purchase has improved sentiment in the sector. Although 3D printing stocks are well off from their highs in the previous years, the companies have a lot of growth ahead of them and are potential takeover candidates if the price is right. Of the around 750 elite funds that we track, 11 owned shares of 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD), 12 had a bullish position in Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) and 57 were long shares of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) at the end of June.

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