How Analysts View 3D Systems After Earnings

After 3D Systems Corp. (NYSE: DDD) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2015 results early Monday, across the board analysts increased their price targets, even if it was only slightly showing some optimism for the stock. The initial reaction from the earnings report was very positive as well.

For the quarter, the 3D printer maker reported adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.19 and $183.4 million in revenues. In the same period a year ago, 3D Systems reported EPS of $0.21 on revenue of $187.44 million. Fourth-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.03 and $166.38 million in revenue.

Short interest has been dropping in 3D Systems, falling by nearly 10 million shares over the past 12 months. The share price has added about 22% since late January, but the company’s stock has a long climb back to its peak of around $97 in December of 2013.
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The company’s interim president and CEO, Andrew Johnson, said:

While market conditions remain challenging and uncertain, timing of healthcare and industrial customer orders as well as contributions from acquisitions supported revenue during the quarter. … We believe that by leveraging our domain expertise, partner and customer relationships and advanced technology we are well positioned to capitalize on meaningful opportunities in key verticals. We are continuing an extensive and comprehensive review of our business and strategy and taking steps to better prioritize our resources and focus our investments.

At the end of the third quarter, the company said it had begun a search for a permanent chief executive to replace Avi Reichental, who had resigned in late October.

After the company reported its earnings, a few analysts weighed in:

• Piper Jaffray reiterated a Hold rating.
• Citigroup reiterated a Neutral rating with a $10 price target.
• Deutsche Bank has a Hold rating and raised its price target to $13 from $11.
• Canaccord Genuity reiterated a Hold rating and raised its price target to $13 from $9.
• Gabelli downgraded it to Hold from Buy.
• Needham reiterated a Buy rating and raised its price target to $16 from $14.
• JPMorgan downgraded it to Underweight from Neutral but raised its price target to $10 from $9.
• Jefferies reiterated a Hold rating and raised its price target to $13 from $9.
• Goldman Sachs reiterated a Neutral rating and raised its price target from $9 to $10.

Shares of 3D ended trading at $14.49 on Friday, with a consensus analyst price target of $13.23 and a 52-week trading range of $6.00 to $32.88.