3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) Shares Up 8.1% – Still a Buy?

3D Systems Co. (NYSE:DDD) shares shot up 8.1% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $4.65 and last traded at $4.63. 1,426,100 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 51% from the average session volume of 2,902,342 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.28.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on DDD shares. Craig Hallum raised 3D Systems to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of 3D Systems in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of 3D Systems in a report on Saturday, February 1st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of 3D Systems from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3.25.

3D Systems Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $632.67 million, a P/E ratio of -1.17 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 3.31 and a quick ratio of 2.34. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $3.57 and its 200-day moving average is $3.08.

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 26th. The 3D printing company reported ($0.16) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by ($0.02). 3D Systems had a negative return on equity of 26.72% and a negative net margin of 117.65%. Analysts predict that 3D Systems Co. will post -0.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other 3D Systems news, CEO Jeffrey A. Graves acquired 60,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $3.85 per share, for a total transaction of $231,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,091,782 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,203,360.70. The trade was a 5.82 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Charles W. Hull sold 115,971 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.86, for a total value of $447,648.06. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 331,955 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,281,346.30. This represents a 25.89 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 3.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On 3D Systems

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of 3D Systems during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Murchinson Ltd. purchased a new stake in 3D Systems during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of 3D Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of 3D Systems by 411.6% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 10,006 shares of the 3D printing company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 8,050 shares during the period. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of 3D Systems in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 64.49% of the company’s stock.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems Corporation provides 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company offers 3D printers technologies, such as stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct metal printing, multi jet printing, color jet printing, polymer extrusion, and extrusion and SLA based bioprinting that transform digital data input generated by 3D design software, computer aided design (CAD) software, or other 3D design tools into printed parts.