Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) announced its decision to split its businesses into two separately publicly-traded companies—HP Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Enterprises.
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise will compose of its technology infrastructure, software and services segments. HP Inc. will consist of PC and printer businesses.
Stifel analysts Patrick Newton and Rob Richardson suggested that Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) will likely enter the 3D printing business and disrupt the industry.
HP Inc. will focus on 3D printing
According to them, they were intrigued by the company’s announcement from the 3D printing perspective as it stated that HP Inc. will also focus on new technologies such as 3D printing.
“We will carefully monitor any 3D printing announcements from HP as a company with its size (market cap of nearly $66 billion) could cause significant disruption in the industry,” wrote Newton and Richardson in a note to investors.
The analysts added that the chain of events led them to believe that Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) was interested in entering the 3D printing service market instead of developing hardware.
During the previous annual shareholders meeting of Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), CEO Meg Whitman said the company is pursuing opportunities in 3D printing.
In June, during the HP Discover conference, Dion Weisler said a technology announcement will be made by the end of the company’s fiscal year on October. Weisler was appointed CEO of HP Inc.
Hewlett-Packard is hiring robotics scientists for 3D printing
Newton and Richardson also noted several reports from different media entities that Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) is hiring robotics scientists for 3D printing.
Based on the company’s job listing, HP Labs is researching 3D printing glass and other inorganic materials.
Competition in 3D printing industry expected to increase
The analysts emphasized the Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) has significant resources at its disposal regardless of the technology or market within the 3D printing industry HP Inc. plans to pursue.
Newton and Richardson estimated that HP Inc. will have approximately $8 billion in opex. “The analysts concluded that the entity has resources to become a disruptor in the 3D printing industry.” They also believed that the competition among 3D printing companies will increase going forward.
