A Fool Looks Back

Rick Munarriz, The Motley Fool
Updated

Three-dimensional printing may be as easy as tapping the "easy" button, now that Staples has become the first major U.S. retailer to begin stocking 3-D printers. The retailer is offering 3D Systems' Cube 3D at some of its stores.

The printer that cranks out customized physical products isn't cheap. The office-supplies superstore chain has been offering the Cube 3D in different colors for $1,299 apiece through its website for some time, but now it's available at select stores.

This is only the beginning, as 3-D printing will get cheaper over time, and the idea will appeal to more consumers as the systems get more affordable.


These are interesting times for 3-D printing, and it only helps that 3D Systems came through with strong revenue growth this quarter earlier this week.

Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  • Several analysts upgraded Seagate after the hard-drive maker posted better-than-expected quarterly results. Revenue and earnings did slide sharply at Seagate, but not as badly as the market was fearing.

  • Herbalife also posted better-than-expected quarterly results. The controversial nutritional-supplements company also raised its guidance, and that'll put the "ack!" in Ackman.

  • Is it time to buy back into coal stocks? Alpha Natural Resource posted a wider quarterly loss than it did a year earlier, but the $0.47-per-share deficit was far kinder than the $0.58 in red ink that the pros were targeting.

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The article A Fool Looks Back originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems, owns shares of 3D Systems and Staples, and has options on Herbalife and 3D Systems. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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