Stratasys Reports Solid Beat, but Will Forecast Impress Investors?

For the quarter the 3D printer maker reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.40 and $96.4 million in revenues. In the same period a year ago, Stratasys reported an EPS loss of $0.94 on revenue of $78.3 million. Fourth-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.38 and $52.83 million in revenue.

On a GAAP basis, Stratasys posted a quarterly net EPS loss of $0.09 compared with a GAAP net loss of $0.17 in the fourth quarter of 2011.

For the full year, Stratasys reported adjusted EPS of $1.49 on revenues of $359 million, compared with adjusted EPS of $0.94 on revenues of $277 million for fiscal year 2011. The consensus estimates called for full year EPS of $1.38 on revenues of $199.96 million.

The company’s CEO said:

Our financial results reflect the strong demand for our products driven by the rapidly growing interest in additive manufacturing worldwide, as more companies are recognizing how our technology can reshape the way their products are designed and manufactured.

Stratasys also provided guidance for the 2013 fiscal year of adjusted EPS of $1.80 to $1.95 on revenues of $430 million to $445 million. On a GAAP basis, the company forecast an EPS loss of $0.16 to $0.41. The adjustments include a $60.5 million charge for amortization of intangible assets, $20.5 million to $23 million for share-based compensation, and $7.2 million to $8.8 million in expenses related to the company’s merger in 2012 with Objet Ltd. The company also “expects to record significant one-time integration expenses as a result of infrastructure alignment and brand unification.” The consensus forecast for fiscal year 2013 calls for EPS of $1.86 on revenues of $421.03 million.

Stratasys, along with 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) and ExOne Co. (NASDAQ: XONE), and service provider Proto Labs Inc. (NYSE: PRLB), are the publicly traded 3D printing companies jockeying for position in a field known as additive manufacturing. Over the past year, Stratasys stock is up about 255% compared with a rise of 144% at 3D Systems. But shares of Stratasys were up nearly 400% as recently as late January, and while the company’s forecast is stronger than that from 3D Systems, revenue growth is coming down from the nosebleed levels of the past couple of years.

Shares closed up 1.8% on Friday, at $64.26 in a 52-week range of $32.87 to $92.30, and are inactive so far this morning. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $84.10 before today’s results were announced.