Top Stock Picks of 2026: 3D Printing Stock Takes Off

For the last month or so, we've been highlighting Schaeffer's top 15 picks for 2026. Today, we have 3D printing stock Velo3D (VELO). To access the entirety of the 2026 report, click here.

The following is our analysis from Dec. 23 for the upcoming year. VELO is up 52% on the year, thanks in large part to a 124% gain in the second quarter.

Velo3D Inc (NASDAQ:VELO) specializes in advanced metal 3D printing technology,  primarily serving the high-value aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. The company is heavily involved in high-growth sectors, with a customer base including Elon Musk's SpaceX and Honeywell International (HON). What's more, the firm has been making strategic moves of late, including a recently announced partnership with Anduril for drone manufacturing. More deals could boost VELO's market share and supply chain capabilities in aerospace and defense.

Case in point: VELO gapped 44% higher on Dec. 22 after the company secured a $32.6 million contract with the U.S. Department of War. Considering President Donald Trump's late 2025 rhetoric lifted defense stocks, adjacent companies with scalable technologies like Velo3D's "SupportFree" process for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) will have a leg up in 2026. It also bears noting that with 13% of the stock's total available float sold short, a short squeeze could keep tailwinds blowing next year.