They say the great ones withstand the test of time. If that's true of stocks (and it is), then it's becoming increasingly safer to say Makism 3D Corp. (OTCMKTS:MDDD) is one of the great ones within the 3D printing world. No, it's neither as big nor as prolific as 3D printer names like 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) or Stratasys, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS). Then again, everything is relative; MDDD may well be packing more of a punch for its investors than SSYS or DDD have in a long time.
If the name rings a bell, it may be because yours truly took a look at MDDD a couple of different times in December, pointing out how it was a compelling investment opportunity not because it was breaking new ground in the 3D printing world, but rather, because it was retracing the trail that companies such as 3D Systems and Stratasys had already blazed. The only difference was, Makism 3D (having learned from its peers and frenemies) was going to do it better, and more cost-effectively. The end result of several months' worth of careful planning was a higher-quality yet highly-affordable line of three-dimensional printers... the proverbial second generation, if you will.
No, it's not exactly earth-shattering stuff. Than again, shattering the earth was never the point. The point of highlighting MDDD was to underscore the fact that it was a solid company and a consistent stock that everyday investors could feel reasonably comfortable owning a position in.
Unfortunately, the market had other plans. That's when things got real interesting, and a little scary.
Though the specific reason was never divulged, the SEC suspended trading of MDDD on December 12th as part of a routine fact-gathering and investigative process. See, Makism 3D Corp. was - through no choice of its own - was the subject of a pretty heavy promotional effort.... the kind the SEC has been working to limit as much as possible whether the agency had a right to or not.
The end result of a trading halt is often a marred image, whether or not it's deserved. Indeed, many stocks never make their way back from the implication. Not Makism 3D. Finding nothing of interest, trading resumed right on schedule for MDDD on December 30th. Yes, it opened lower... and proceeded to march right back up from that price of $0.115 to the current price of $2.02. And, it's still going strong. Oh, and did we mention that price is leaps and bounds higher than the $1.11 level Makism 3D shares were trading at before the halt, and before the promotion, and before it was put under about a dozen different spotlights?
So what? The "so what" is to take the hint at face value. If there was something not on the up-and-up about the company, the SEC would have found it, or it at least extended the halt until it was done performing an investigation. There was nothing worth the SEC's time. The market seems to know it, and is having no problem bidding up MDDD as a result. Thing is, even at $2.02, there's still more potential to tap into. The investor/customer event to be held later this month should make the company very real in a lot of people's eyes, and that could prove to be very catalytic for the stock.
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