Additive Manufacturing Earnings Reveal a Market at Two Speeds
First-quarter 3D printer earnings Q1 2026 from Nano Dimension, Stratasys and 3D Systems highlight a sector moving in two directions at once. Hardware demand for new printers remains inconsistent, yet additive manufacturing revenue growth is re-emerging in specialist markets such as healthcare, dental, and aerospace defense 3D printing. Stratasys reported declining revenue as customers delayed system purchases, even though its services and parts business expanded. Nano Dimension delivered strong top-line growth largely because Markforged is now consolidated, but its legacy operations shrank and losses widened during an ongoing strategic review. In contrast, 3D Systems returned to growth across printers, materials and parts by leaning into medtech, dental and aerospace-defense work. Taken together, the results suggest that generalized capital spending on 3D printers is still cautious, while high-value, regulated and defense-related applications are becoming the real engine for 3D Systems, Stratasys, Nano Dimension and their peers.
Nano Dimension Grows via Markforged but Faces Deeper Losses
Nano Dimension began the year with a sharp jump in revenue after integrating Markforged into its results. The company posted USD 29.7 million (approx. RM137 million) in quarterly revenue, more than double the prior year’s figure. Markforged contributed USD 17.1 million (approx. RM79 million), underscoring how acquisitions can quickly reshape additive manufacturing revenue growth. However, Nano Dimension’s stand-alone revenue fell to USD 12.6 million (approx. RM58 million), a decline management linked to tariffs and divestments, including its move to sell AME and Fabrica product lines. At the same time, the net loss widened to USD 69.7 million (approx. RM321 million), and leadership suspended full-year guidance while exploring options that could include a strategic merger or other transactions. The numbers show growth driven more by portfolio reshuffling than underlying demand, and they highlight the cost pressures facing companies trying to reposition within an evolving 3D printing landscape.
Stratasys Hit by Weaker Printer Sales but Services and Drones Stand Out
Stratasys reported lower revenue and profitability as customers continued to curb investments in new 3D printers. First-quarter revenue slipped to USD 132.7 million (approx. RM612 million) from USD 136 million (approx. RM628 million), with product revenue, system sales and consumables all declining. Tariffs and foreign exchange added further pressure to gross margins, contributing to a net loss of USD 23.8 million (approx. RM110 million), compared with USD 13.1 million (approx. RM61 million) a year earlier. Yet the picture is not uniformly negative. Service revenue rose to USD 43.9 million (approx. RM203 million), supported by growth at Stratasys Direct, the company’s parts manufacturing arm, while customer support revenue held largely steady. Stratasys Direct delivered double-digit organic growth, with the three largest parts customers coming from drone-related businesses. This tilt toward aerospace defense 3D printing and drones, alongside dental and production-focused applications, indicates where Stratasys sees more resilient and recurring revenue streams.
3D Systems Returns to Growth on Healthcare, Dental and Defense Demand
3D Systems’ latest results stand out against peers thanks to a clear return to revenue growth. The company reported consolidated revenue of USD 95.5 million (approx. RM441 million), up 11% year over year on an adjusted basis that reflects prior divestitures. Management attributed the improvement to stronger demand in healthcare, dental, and aerospace and defense, plus refreshed metal and polymer printer platforms. Healthcare Solutions revenue climbed 21% to USD 50.1 million (approx. RM231 million), surpassing Industrial Solutions as the company’s largest segment, driven by dental and medtech printers, materials and parts. Aerospace and defense within Industrial Solutions grew more than 20%, aided by robust metal printer sales. Dental was a major bright spot, with double-digit material growth supported by aligner and prosthetic products and strong adoption of the NextDent 300 denture printing platform. 3D Systems’ decision to sustain R&D through the downturn now appears to be paying off in differentiated offerings and broader additive manufacturing revenue growth.
Defense, Healthcare and Recurring Revenue Reshape the 3D Printing Playbook
Comparing 3D Systems, Stratasys and Nano Dimension shows how market mix and business model are redefining success in additive manufacturing. Broad-based capital spending on 3D printers remains constrained, hurting system and consumables revenue at Stratasys and limiting organic growth at Nano Dimension. In contrast, targeted exposure to aerospace defense 3D printing, medtech and dental applications is enabling 3D Systems to grow across printers, materials and parts. Another key differentiator is recurring revenue. Stratasys’ relatively stable materials, support contracts and Stratasys Direct services help offset weak hardware cycles. 3D Systems is building similar resilience through healthcare materials and parts manufacturing, reinforced by installed-system upgrades. Even Nano Dimension’s Markforged acquisition is partly a bet on recurring software and materials income. As the industry emerges from what 3D Systems describes as a multi-year trough, recurring revenue and high-value regulated markets look set to drive the next phase of 3D printer earnings Q1 2026 and beyond.
