5 3D Printing Companies to Watch in 2022

3. Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) is a digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and production parts, using 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding techniques. The firm is based in Minnesota and announced its industrial-grade 3D printing services in 2014. Since then, the firm has become a leader in assisting designers, engineers and developers in moving from prototyping to low-volume production. In 2020, Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) announced the ability to 3D print cobalt chrome materials using direct metal laser sintering, providing a major tech upgrade to the aerospace industry. The firm is said to be the fastest digital manufacturer of prototypes around the world.

In December, Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) approved an increase of $50 million in its stock repurchase program, bringing the program to a total of $150 million, which is 10% of the company’s market cap. In the third quarter, the firm posted an EPS of $0.35, which fell below estimates by $0.08.

17 hedge funds reported ownership of stakes in Proto Labs, Inc. (NYSE:PRLB) at the end of the third quarter, worth $259.88 million. In comparison, 19 hedge funds were bullish on the company in the previous quarter.