Coherent, Inc.·Technology

Coherent has transitioned from a cyclical optical supplier to a strategic AI infrastructure enabler, supporting a structural rerating in valuation. Q3 revenue grew 27% and EPS 55%, with datacenter exposure rising to 75% and strong backlog visibility extending into 2028 and beyond. COHR's 6-inch indium phosphide ramp and broad AI ecosystem positioning underpin confidence in sustained high growth through FY2027 and FY2028.

Investors know Nvidia Corp.(NASDAQ:NVDA) as a GPU supplier powering the artificial intelligence boom. But the chip giant's latest portfolio disclosure suggests CEO Jensen Huang may be placing a significant bet on another part of the AI stack: the infrastructure that moves data between those chips.

The eye-catching performance of some of the world's largest stocks has led to them becoming fixtures in investors' portfolios. Whether that exposure comes via market-cap-weighted funds or direct ownership, the stocks' collective gains have overshadowed the roughly 2,500 other U.S.-listed stocks that do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the S&P 500.

Credo is betting big on AEC adoption, new product families and a $750M DustPhotonics deal - while Coherent scales transceivers and OCS.

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) has been on quite the investment spree in the past year, and while much of the AI bets and partnerships have begun to bear fruit after the latest run in AI-related names, questions linger as to how all these “circular” bets change the risk/reward profile of the world's largest company.

Coherent Corp.'s Q3 FY2026 revenue rose 21% YoY to $1.81B while EPS surged 55% as margins expanded toward 39.6%. COHR management expects FY2027 growth exceeding FY2026 despite consensus already projecting revenue growth from $7.05B to $9.45B. Coherent plans for 4x indium phosphide capacity expansion through 2027, materially improving optical supply availability and production economics.
Coherent, Inc. provides lasers, laser-based technologies, and laser-based system solutions for a range of commercial, industrial, and scientific research applications. It operates in two segments, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Laser Sources and Industrial Lasers & Systems. The company designs, manufactures, markets, and services lasers, laser tools, precision optics, and related accessories; and laser measurement and control products. Its products are used for applications in microelectronics, materials processing, OEM components and instrumentation, and scientific research and government programs. The company markets its products through a direct sales force in the United States, as well as through direct sales personnel and independent representatives internationally. Coherent, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. As of July 1, 2022, Coherent, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of II-VI Incorporated.
Technology
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
26,157
1987-10-02
2.05