We recently have begun tracking short interest in the publicly traded companies that either make 3D printing systems or provide design and other services using the machines. As of March 28, short interest has risen in 3D Systems Inc. (NYSE: DDD), Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), ExOne Co. (NASDAQ: XONE) and Proto Labs Inc. (NYSE: PRLB).

Short interest in 3D Systems rose 2.3% to 26.55 million shares. Some 31.3% of the company’s stock is short.

Short interest in Proto Labs rose 0.3% to 1.036 million shares, or 5.7% of the company’s float.

Stratasys saw short interest rise by 18% in the final two weeks of March to 4.14 million shares, or about 15.2% of the company’s float.

Short interest in ExOne rose from about 1.54 million on March 15 to 1.68 million shares by the end of the month. Of 7.36 million shares floated, about 22.8% are short.

Once again, short interest in the 3D printing companies is up in this two-week period. The largest rise, in Stratasys shares, likely reflects short sellers’ wariness that the company will meet its guidance. The issue for all these companies is whether they can continue to grow faster than analysts expect. Forward earnings expectations have cooled from previously sky-high levels, but are still above market averages.

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