Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) reported second-quarter 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The 3D printer maker reported adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.45 and $106.7 million in revenues. In the same period a year ago, Stratasys reported EPS of $0.35 on revenue of $88.7 million. Second-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.44 and $105.46 million in revenue.

On a GAAP basis, Stratasys posted a quarterly net loss of $0.07 per share, compared with a GAAP net loss of $0.19 in the first quarter of 2012.

Stratasys updated its previous guidance for the 2013 fiscal year. The company’s June $400 million acquisition of MakerBot was previously forecast to be “slightly dilutive” to adjusted EPS, and Stratasys has lowered its EPS guidance from $1.80 to $1.95 to a new range of $1.75 to $1.90. Revenue guidance has been raised from a prior range of $430 million to $445 million to a new range of $455 million to $480 million. The unadjusted EPS loss has widened, from a previous range of $0.16 to $0.41 to a new range of $0.49 to $0.76.

The company’s CEO said:

We begin the third quarter with positive sales momentum and a strong pipeline of opportunities within the channel. The benefits from our recent integration initiatives are tangible, and we are very excited about our plan to merge with Makerbot, which we expect to close in the middle of this month. Although we are pleased with our near-term performance and continue to project strong growth for the year, we also remain focused on developing the many opportunities that can drive long-term growth for our shareholders.

On a GAAP basis, gross margins improved when compared to the second quarter of 2012, from 45.3% to 47.3%. Sequentially the company’s gross margin rose sharply from 38.4% in the first quarter.

Stratasys turned in a surprise miss in the first quarter, but now appears to be back on track. Two items of note are that the EPS estimate did not change over the course of the past three months and revenue came in closer to the high estimate than to the low one.

Over the past two years, Stratasys stock is up more than 250%, largely on the strength of its merger with Objet. The acquisition of MakerBot, which makes a desktop 3D printer, opens a whole new market space for the company, but it remains to be seen if Stratasys can succeed in a space that is completely unfamiliar to the company.

Shares of Stratasys are up about 1.7% in premarket trading this morning, at $87.60 in a 52-week range of $53.53 to $96.44. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $96.50 before today’s results were announced.

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