3D Systems downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray
Piper Jaffray analyst Troy Jensen downgraded 3D Systems (DDD) to Underweight with a $10 price target. The shares closed yesterday up 30c to $14.00. A survey of resellers found that system demand downticked sequentially for 3D Systems with more below plan responses versus above plan, Jensen tells investors in a research note. He believes competition for the company's main product lines is intensifying. 3D Systems will struggle to deliver organic system growth with HP (HPQ), General Electric (GE), Formlabs, Carbon and others "attacking their biggest revenue contributors," Jensen writes. The analyst also thinks 3D will need to increase spending on direct sales, customer support and consulting, meaning "meaningful profitability" will likely be more challenged than revenue growth throughout 2018. He views the stock as overvalued. While Jensen continues to believe the overall 3D printing industry is "growing rapidly," he remains cautious on shares of 3D Systems and Stratasys (SSYS). He reiterates a Neutral rating on the latter. |