4 Must-Watch 3D Print Stocks Driving Industry Innovation

The additive manufacturing revolution is reshaping industrial production, and savvy investors are increasingly turning their attention to 3D print stocks that dominate this transformative space. What started as a prototyping novelty in the 1980s has evolved into a critical manufacturing paradigm that delivers precision, customization and sustainability advantages over traditional methods. These 3D print stocks represent companies leveraging layer-by-layer production to capture value across aerospace, healthcare, automotive and consumer goods sectors.

The competitive advantages driving adoption are compelling. Unlike conventional manufacturing that removes material from a block, additive manufacturing builds products incrementally, dramatically reducing waste while enabling complex geometries impossible with traditional approaches. Companies benefit from localized production that shortens supply chains, on-demand capabilities that eliminate excess inventory, and the flexibility to customize at scale—advantages especially valuable for industries with seasonal demand or urgent spare-part requirements.

Geographically, North America commands over 35% of the market, powered by robust R&D spending and advanced infrastructure. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and India, is rapidly accelerating adoption to boost industrial competitiveness. This dual-engine growth pattern positions early-mover 3D print stocks favorably for sustained expansion.

NVIDIA’s AI Integration Revolutionizes 3D Printing Technology

NVIDIA NVDA stands out as perhaps the most influential enabler of 3D printing advancement through its cutting-edge AI and GPU technologies integrated throughout the manufacturing value chain. The company’s contributions have intensified recently, particularly through strategic partnerships and technological breakthroughs that underscore why NVIDIA is reshaping 3D print stock valuations.

A landmark collaboration between NVDA and HP’s HPQ 3D Printing division exemplifies this synergy. HP deployed NVIDIA’s Modulus AI tool to optimize manufacturing efficiency and accuracy, developing the Virtual Foundry Graphnet platform. This innovation predicts metal powder behavior during the 3D printing process, enabling manufacturers to optimize workflows, minimize defects and enhance part quality—capabilities that give HP’s 3D print stock credentials serious competitive weight.

NVIDIA’s venture arm, NVentures, backed Freeform in October 2024, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers focused on AI-native, autonomous metal 3D printing factories. This partnership symbolizes the convergence of artificial intelligence and hardware-accelerated computing in redefining how metal is produced—a technological leap that could transform entire segments of manufacturing.

On the software front, NVIDIA introduced Magic3D, a generative AI tool that creates high-quality 3D textured mesh models from simple text prompts. The company then advanced this further with LATTE3D (Large-scale Amortized Text-To-Enhanced3D Synthesis), a text-to-3D generator that produces printable models in under one second using NVIDIA’s RTX A6000 GPU. These breakthroughs demonstrate how 3D print stock innovation increasingly hinges on AI-driven design automation.

Additional innovations amplify NVIDIA’s strategic positioning. The Omniverse platform and PhysX engine enable real-time material and structure simulation before actual printing, reducing trial-and-error cycles. NeRFs (Neural Radiance Fields), an AI model reconstructing 3D geometries from 2D photos, enables reverse engineering of physical objects into printable digital models. By converting video or image data into detailed 3D meshes, NVIDIA has fundamentally accelerated the conversion pipeline for AM applications.

NVIDIA currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) designation, reflecting its outsized influence on the 3D printing ecosystem.

AMETEK’s Strategic Expansion in Additive Manufacturing

AMETEK AME has positioned itself as the premier supplier of high-performance metal powders essential to additive manufacturing through its Specialty Metal Products (SMP) division. The company’s portfolio spans alloys and size distributions tailored to different AM processes—Laser Powder Bed, Binder Jet, Cold Spray and beyond. AMETEK’s materials range includes stainless steel grades (316L, 304L, 17-4PH), specialty austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, plus high-quality nickel and cobalt alloys specifically engineered for 3D printing applications. Drawing on more than 50 years of materials expertise, AMETEK delivers the scale, precision and metallurgical knowledge that ensure consistent performance and cost efficiency—attributes that make this 3D print stock attractive for long-term investors.

The company demonstrated aggressive growth strategy with its July 2025 acquisition of Faro Technologies, a global leader in 3D measurement and imaging solutions. Faro’s portfolio—portable measurement arms, laser scanners and trackers, software platforms and comprehensive service offerings—represents AMETEK’s largest precision scanning addition since the 2013 Creaform acquisition. Creaform itself is celebrated for developing portable 3D measurement technologies and engineering services. AMETEK complemented this portfolio in October 2024 by acquiring Virtek Vision International, a specialist in advanced laser-based projection and inspection systems.

Now, with Faro, Creaform and Virtek consolidated under AMETEK’s Ultra Precision Technologies division, the company commands a comprehensive 3D metrology portfolio that strengthens its competitive moat in additive manufacturing. This 3D print stock consolidates capability across measurement, material science and precision scanning—an integrated advantage that few competitors can replicate.

AMETEK currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

ATI’s Aerospace-Focused 3D Printing Capabilities

ATI Inc. ATI delivers end-to-end additive manufacturing expertise spanning metal powder formulation, material science and finished-part production. The company is among the few providers offering comprehensive capabilities in both Electron Beam Melting and Direct Metal Laser Melting technologies. ATI’s extensive powder metals portfolio enables rapid customer response to specialized additive part requirements, while its metallurgical leadership allows custom alloy development tailored to industry-specific challenges.

The company invested substantially in production capacity for advanced metallic powders serving next-generation aerospace applications. ATI commissioned a state-of-the-art facility integrating design, printing, heat treating, machining and inspection under one roof—a one-stop solution addressing high-performance aerospace, defense and space sector challenges. This fully integrated approach, from raw powder through finished product, represents a competitive advantage many 3D print stocks cannot match. ATI’s focus on aerospace markets, where precision, durability and regulatory compliance command premium valuations, reinforces this 3D print stock’s positioning within the industry’s highest-value segments.

ATI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Carpenter Technology’s Powder-to-Finished-Part Solutions

Carpenter Technology CRS established its dedicated Carpenter Additive business unit in May 2019, building AM capabilities through strategic acquisitions including LPW Technology Ltd., Puris and CalRAM. In late 2019, the company opened its Emerging Technology Center in Athens, AL, equipped for atomizing specialty alloys into metal powder and manufacturing finished parts using 3D metal printing technology.

The facility features state-of-the-art equipment including a quick-cooling Hot Isostatic Press system and vacuum heat treatment capabilities that optimize material properties for high-value specialty alloy components. Carpenter Additive has become one of the world’s most versatile producers of spherical, gas-atomized, pre-alloyed metal powders and consolidated powder metallurgy products meeting stringent AM requirements, as well as serving metal injection molding, hot isostatic pressing, near-net shaping and surface enhancement applications.

Carpenter’s differentiation lies in its comprehensive end-to-end capabilities—from powder production through manufacturing to finished-part delivery—positioning this 3D print stock among industry leaders. By consolidating the entire value chain under one enterprise, Carpenter Technology reduces complexity for customers and strengthens margins compared to point-solution competitors.

CRS currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The Broader Investment Case for 3D Print Stocks

The 3D printing stocks highlighted above represent the vanguard of additive manufacturing transformation. Their contributions span AI-accelerated design automation, precision material science, advanced measurement technologies and integrated manufacturing solutions. As adoption accelerates across aerospace, healthcare, automotive and consumer sectors, these 3D print stocks stand positioned to capture significant value from the expanding addressable market and robust innovation pipeline.

The combination of technological advancement, market tailwinds and strategic positioning makes this segment compelling for investors seeking exposure to transformative manufacturing trends reshaping how products are conceived, designed and produced.