3-D printing purchase helps Proto Labs results

Proto Labs Inc.'s stock price rose 14 percent Thursday after the company reported improved results for both the quarter and year.

Shares of the Maple Plain prototype and contract manufacturer climbed $8.08 to close at $65.70.

Fourth-quarter sales rose 27 percent to $56.1 million with help from the company's April purchase of a 3-D printing firm. Earnings rose 7 percent to $10.2 million, or 39 cents a share. Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings were $11.2 million, or 43 cents a share, a penny better than analysts expected.

For the year, sales rose 28 percent to $209.6 million, while earnings jumped 18 percent to $41.6 million, or $1.60 a share. Adjusted 2014 earnings were $1.73 a share, which met analysts' expectations.

CEO Vicki Holt credited the results to strong sales growth in North America, Europe and Japan.