Great was the rejoicing when contract 3D-printing manufacturer Proto Labs (NYSE: PRLB) reported its big "earnings beat" this morning -- great, and temporary.
Before trading opened for the day, Proto Labs, which uses additive manufacturing to produce industrial prototypes and production parts for its customers, reported that its pro forma earnings for the fiscal first quarter 2020 came in at $0.61 per share, well above the $0.38 that Wall Street had predicted. (Sales of $115 million likewise trumped predictions for just $102 million in the quarter.)
At first, this news sent Proto Labs stock flying up 12.8% in early trading. But here at the market close, it had just a 4% gain.