What happened Can anything stop 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD)? Last week, shares of the maker of 3D printers more than doubled in a single day of frenzied trading Thursday, then drifted higher on Friday. On Monday morning, they picked up where they left off, climbing another 9% through 11:50 a.m. EST -- apparently on no "new" news at all. Image source: Getty Images. So what But perhaps 3D Systems investors don't need any more news to fuel their optimism. Last week's revelations were good enough. In an earnings preannouncement, the company confirmed that Q4 sales are going to beat analysts' estimates with a stick, coming in between $170 million and $176 million -- a tight range that suggests substantial certainty about how good the news will be when official earnings come out. It's not yet certain whether 3D Systems will earn a profit on these sales -- but it might. Management said its GAAP bottom-line result could be anywhere from a loss of $8.6 million to a $500,000 profit. Now what Just the chance that 3D Systems could break its losing streak -- 15 straight quarters without a single GAAP profit -- has been enough to give investors hope that things are finally turning around. And with analysts on average now predicting that the company could earn a profit for the whole year -- then grow that profit at a 30% annualized rate over the next five years -- 2021 could be the year 3D Systems stock begins growing again. 10 stocks we like better than 3D SystemsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and 3D Systems wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of November 20, 2020 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source