Short Interest In 3-D Printers Hits Levels Not Seen In Months

Three-dimensional printing technology has been a media darling in recent months even as investors in three names related to the sector have rushed for the exists. Short interest in the three names meanwhile has crept up to levels not seen since last summer. Stratasys SSYS posted a disappointing outlook earlier this month along with results below expectations. 3D Systems Corp. DDD and the smaller ExOne Co XONE are both slated to report results Feb. 26. With a current market capitalization of about $3.44 billion and average daily volume of about 2 million shares, Stratasys' consumer printer called MakerBot fouled its third-quarter results and contributed to the company's lowered outlook. Stratasys shares are down more than 40 percent since August, and about 22 percent of its float is now held as short interest. The number of trading days required to cover Stratasys' short interest reached a peak in July, but in the past couple of months have crept up to a nearly comparable level. A similar short-interest picture emerges for both 3D Systems and ExOne, both of which have suffered substantial losses in their stock price during recent months. More than 34 percent of 3D's public float is currently accounted for by short interest, with 12.69 days required to cover. The number hit a peak in September of nearly 14 trading days. With a market cap of $3.67 billion and average daily volume of 3.13 million shares, 3D shares have lost a third of their value since August. For ExOne, nearly 40 percent of its public float is now held as short interest, with nearly 14 trading days required to cover, given its current average daily volume of 332,000 shares. That's slightly higher than a previous peak hit in June. ExOne, with a market capitalization of $240.6 million, has lost nearly 43 percent of its value since August. , dragging down with a market capitalizaiton of about 3.44 billion, 3D, with a market cap of $3.67 billion, is set to post results Feb. 26 before the bell. The smaller Exone, $237.7 million in market cap, reports results on the same date as 3D.