Whether you want to buy shares in 3D printing technologies or buy 3D printing stocks, this guide can help. This exciting technology has grown from an idea and an exciting prototype into a real-life, sci-fi tech that is set to take the world of manufacturing by storm.

3D printing hasn’t quite reached the heights that many predicted of it, but it still has a long way to go. And while it may not be as common in our homes as laptops and TVs (as many experts predicted) 3D printing it becoming more useful and more accessible. So, there has never been a better time to buy 3D printing stocks.

Buy Shares in 3D Printing

It seems that the majority of first-time investors get into this game because they want to invest in an idea, as opposed to a company. That’s one of the most exciting things about investing after all. Many of those investors will turn away when they say that there is no straightforward way to invest in that idea. But if you do a little digging, there usually is an alternative way.

Such is the case with 3D printing. In this case, while you can’t invest directly in this technology, you can invest in its future and you can profit from its success by investing in the companies that also profit from it. So, if you want to buy shares in 3D printing then you just need to buy shares in 3D printing companies. After all, if this technology takes off and really does end up in every home, then those 3D printing stocks will go through the roof.

Invest in 3D Printing

This is a diverse technology and there are an equally diverse number of 3D printing stocks out there. On the one hand you can buy shares in 3d printing companies that rely 100% on this technology. They might manufacture the printers or the parts that they need to run. They might make the components. Either way, their success or failure is tied to it. This is good because success for 3D printing means a huge profit for you; but it’s bad because a failure for this technology means you’ll likely lose everything.

On the other hand, you can invest in 3d printing companies that also sell and/or make other products. This exciting technology may be a sideline for them. It may be something they have a sizeable share in. In this case, they will profit if it succeeds, albeit slightly less, and they will still survive if it fails.

Buy 3D Printing Stocks

If you’re in the first category, looking to buy shares in 3d printing stocks that are entirely invested in this tech, then take a look at the following stocks:

• Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS): 3D printing has only really grabbed consumer attention in the last couple years or so. However, Stratasys has been around since 1989. It has been involved with 3D printing in one way or another since the beginning. This is one of our top 3D printing stocks, and a must-invest for those buying shares in 3d printing. They are big, they are experienced and they are fully invested in this technology. They also have a revenue of more than $500 million, so it’s going to take a lot to bring Stratasys to its knees.
• ExOne (NASDAQ:XONE): One of the pioneers of modern 3D printing, ExOne is often the first port-of-call for people seeking to invest in 3D printing. There was a lot of hype around them in the early days and while this has faded somewhat (along with all of the general hype surrounding this technology) they are still a strong, viable investment opportunity that has a bright future. Assuming 3D printing takes off, that is. Otherwise ExOne are doomed.
• 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD): Another big 3D printing stock, 3D Systems are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This wouldn’t be our only choice and if we were investing in just one of these companies we’d probably choose one of the others. However, if you want a 3D printing portfolio, you might want to consider investing in all of these.

Looking to invest in other ideas or innovations? Read our guide on Buying Shares in Virtual Reality.

Other Ways to Buy 3D Printing Stocks

There are other ways to invest in 3D printing technologies. As well as other manufacturers, you also have to look at the retailers, the patent owners, and anyone that will profit from the success of this technology. This would be an extensive list, so it’s not one we will list in full. But to give you some ideas, here are some companies you might want to consider:

• Hewlett Packard (HPQ): This computing giant provides a lot of security to the investor. There is also a lot of opportunity for growth.
• Voxeljet (VJET): These guys are focused on 3D printing, but they are small. They may not survive a slump, let alone a crash. But if this tech succeeds, then this tech stock should succeed as well.

Other Investing Guides

If buying shares in 3D Printing piques your interest, then you might want to consider all of the following pages as well:

Buy Shares in Facebook: The world’s biggest social network, and one that also owns many big patents and companies. Facebook is growing at a tremendous rate and is great for tech investors.
Buy Shares in Microsoft: A tech giant that is as strong as it has always been. Microsoft has many irons in the fire.
Buy Shares in Apple: One of the biggest innovators in the world. Apple introduced the world to smartphones, tablets, smart watches and more, and there are many more innovations in the pipeline.
Buy Shares in Amazon: The biggest retailer, and one that also a number of big brands.