Is Stratasys (SSYS) A Good Investment?

At this point in time, there is no denying the fact that 3D printing is all the rage. A growing number of companies are getting in on the action, with some outperforming the rest. One of those companies at the top of the industry is Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS).

Despite the fact that Stratasys Q4 earnings missed estimates, investors are still optimistic about what the future holds. The company is throwing tons of money into research and development, hoping to turn the corner in 2014.

All was not bad, however. Stratasys’ non-GAAP revenues increased more than 61% from the same quarter of 2012, reaching $155.8 million.

Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS)

In a recent CNBC video segment, John Bichelmeyer, Buffalo Funds portfolio manager, examined Stratasys, including his thoughts on why the company is going to outdo the competition in a crowded industry.

“I think the Stratasys product portfolio is superior in many ways to some of the other competitors in the marketplace. It is a company that has demonstrated its intellectual property as superior in many different ways. And there go to market strategy with both object and Stratasys has also made a difference, and the MakerBot portfolio is nice icing on the cake.”

When asked about the MakerBot business being a “kicker,” he added the following:

“I think that is what has surprised some people here in the last six to nine months. People saw what Stratasys paid for MakerBot and scratched their head, and were not quite sure of the growth trajectory of the business. Many people who were looking at Q4 were expecting the business to be at about an $80 million run rate for revenues, and what we saw was something closer to a $100 million run rate.”

If you believe what Bichelmeyer has to say, it is hard to argue with the fact that Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) is a good investment. The company is in the right space, at the right time. Along with this, it is not shying away from research and development, as well as acquisitions, which could push things forward even further.

The remaining portion of 2014 will go a long way in showing if Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) is moving in the right direction or spinning its wheels. What are your thoughts on the company as an investment?

Disclosure: none