Group 1 - Coherent (COHR) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to Amplitude, Inc. (AMPL), which has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3] - Value investors utilize various valuation metrics to identify undervalued stocks, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share [4] - COHR has a forward P/E ratio of 19.84, significantly lower than AMPL's forward P/E of 171.38, suggesting COHR is more attractively priced [5] Group 2 - COHR's PEG ratio is 0.79, indicating a favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth, while AMPL's PEG ratio is 4.43, suggesting it may be overvalued [5] - COHR has a P/B ratio of 2.35, compared to AMPL's P/B of 3.94, further supporting COHR's stronger valuation metrics [6] - COHR's overall Value grade is B, while AMPL's Value grade is F, highlighting COHR as the better option for value investors [6]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the communication equipment industry [15]. Core Insights - Major cloud vendors such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta reported better-than-expected financial results, driven by strong demand for cloud services and advertising, with significant capital expenditure increases [4][7]. - AI applications are deeply penetrating various sectors, leading to accelerated investments in computing power and infrastructure [7][13]. - The overall trend indicates a robust growth trajectory for AI and computing power, with companies ramping up their capital expenditures to support this growth [13]. Summary by Sections Cloud Vendors: Strong Financial Performance and Demand - Google reported Q2 2025 revenues of $96.43 billion, up 13.8% year-on-year, with a net profit of $28.20 billion, up 19.4% [24][26]. - Amazon achieved Q2 2025 revenues of $167.70 billion, a 13.3% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of $18.16 billion, up 34.7% [34][36]. - Microsoft recorded Q4 FY25 revenues of $76.44 billion, an 18.1% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of $27.23 billion, up 23.6% [43][45]. - Meta's Q2 2025 revenues reached $47.52 billion, a 21.6% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of $18.34 billion, up 36.2% [51][54]. CPU/GPU: Product Iteration and Ecosystem Upgrade - AMD's Q2 2025 revenues were $7.69 billion, a 31.7% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of $0.87 billion, up 229.1% [60][62]. - The client and gaming segments saw record growth, while the data center business faced challenges due to export restrictions [62]. Switches: High-End Volume and Stable Profitability - Arista's revenue growth was driven by its AI Center strategy, with significant increases in AI network revenue [9]. - Celestica's communication market growth was primarily driven by high-performance switches, with revenue and performance outlooks adjusted upwards [9]. Optical Communication & Fiber Optics: Strong Shipments and Scale-Up Acceleration - Lumentum's optical module shipments surged, and coherent optical communication business saw rapid growth [10]. - Corning's optical communication business thrived, driven by enterprise networks, with expectations for significant future growth from scale-up scenarios [10]. Cables: Strong Orders and Active Capacity Expansion - Amphenol reported strong AI-related orders and exceeded expectations in IT data communication business growth [11]. Cooling: High Demand and Accelerated Liquid Cooling Adoption - Vertiv's revenue and profits saw significant growth, with a strong order backlog and upward guidance for the year [12]. Investment Recommendations: Accelerating Business Flywheel and Computing Power - The report recommends several companies across different segments, including optical modules, liquid cooling, fiber optics, and AI applications, highlighting their potential for growth [13].

Core Insights - Coherent Corp. (COHR) is strategically positioned to benefit from the expanding AI and high-performance computing markets, with a notable shift towards AI and datacom yielding positive results [1][2]. Financial Performance - In fiscal 2025, COHR achieved record revenues of $5.8 billion, reflecting a 23% increase year-over-year, driven by a 61% surge in data center revenues [2][8]. - The company experienced a 358-basis-point expansion in non-GAAP gross margin, indicating the high-value nature of its AI-centric products [2]. Product Development - COHR has initiated revenue shipments of its 1.6T transceivers, essential for upcoming high-speed AI interconnects, showcasing the potential of its future product pipeline [3]. - The Optical Circuit Switch platform is also generating revenues, contributing to the company's market position [4]. Market Trends - The demand for data centers is expected to grow significantly, with McKinsey projecting an annual capacity increase of 19-22% from 2023 to 2030, presenting substantial opportunities for COHR [5]. Stock Performance and Valuation - COHR's stock increased by 10.4% over the past three months, slightly underperforming the industry average of 12.3% [6]. - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 18.15X, significantly lower than the industry average of 86.56X, indicating a favorable valuation [10]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COHR's earnings has risen by 3.9% and 11.6% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, over the past 60 days [13].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the communication equipment industry [7]. Core Insights - Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) technology allows for routing and forwarding of optical signals without optical-electrical conversion, offering ultra-high transmission speeds, low latency, low power consumption, and high stability compared to traditional switches. This technology is expected to significantly enhance the value of the industry chain in the long term [2][10]. - Google has integrated OCS technology into its TPU v4 generation, which is now in large-scale deployment. Major overseas optical communication leaders are actively promoting OCS products, with significant revenue contributions expected by 2026 [2][10]. Summary by Sections OCS Technology Overview - OCS operates on the principle of direct optical signal switching, eliminating the need for optical-electrical conversion, thus providing advantages such as ultra-high transmission speed and low power consumption. It is seen as a potential long-term replacement for electrical switches [10]. - LightCounting predicts that OCS shipments will experience explosive growth, reaching 10,000 units in 2023 and exceeding 50,000 units by 2029 [10]. Competitive Landscape - There are three main approaches to OCS technology: MEMS, Digital Liquid Crystal (DLC), and Direct Laser Beam Steering (DLBS). Google and Lumentum primarily use the MEMS approach, while Coherent employs the non-mechanical DLC method [10]. - The report highlights that Lumentum and Coherent have begun generating revenue from their OCS businesses, with expectations for continued revenue growth in upcoming quarters [4][10]. Market Outlook - The report suggests that OCS technology will replace electrical switches in the spine layer first, with potential penetration into the leaf/ToR layer in the future. The market for OCS is projected to expand significantly, with an estimated market space of around $2 billion [10]. - Key players to watch include optical system manufacturers with first-mover advantages, as well as manufacturers of passive optical components and laser sources [10].

Core Insights - Symbotic (SYM) and Coherent Corp. (COHR) are prominent players in the Zacks Technology Services industry, with SYM focusing on AI-enabled robotics for supply chain operations and COHR on advanced optical and semiconductor technologies [1][2] Group 1: Symbotic (SYM) - SYM has a significant backlog of $22.4 billion, positioning it for substantial revenue generation in the near future [5] - The company reported a 26% year-over-year revenue increase, with expectations of revenues between $590 million and $610 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 [6] - SYM's partnership with Walmart is crucial, contributing significantly to its revenues, but poses customer concentration risks [8] - Despite revenue growth, SYM has a history of negative earnings surprises, with an average negative surprise of 78.3% over the last four quarters [7] Group 2: Coherent Corp. (COHR) - COHR experienced a 23% revenue increase in fiscal 2025, driven by AI datacenter demand and telecom recovery [9] - The company is advancing its product offerings, including new 1.6T transceivers, which are expected to contribute positively to revenues in fiscal 2026 [10] - COHR has consistently outperformed earnings estimates, with an average beat of 13% over the past four quarters [11] - COHR's valuation is more attractive compared to SYM, trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 2.1 versus SYM's 10.33 [14] Group 3: Market Performance and Valuation - Over the past month, SYM shares have declined over 5%, while COHR shares have seen a more significant decline [12] - Concerns regarding COHR's market share in datacom offerings have contributed to its stock performance [12] - COHR's attractive valuation and strong product portfolio make it a more appealing investment compared to SYM [16]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley has lowered the target price for Coherent (COHR.US) from $97 to $89 while maintaining a "hold" rating, citing disappointing future prospects despite better-than-expected earnings in Q4 [1] Financial Performance - Coherent's Q4 earnings per share exceeded Wall Street expectations, indicating strong short-term performance [1] - The stock had previously risen by 20% in the last month, reflecting market optimism [1] Market Context - The disappointing outlook for Coherent is particularly notable given the positive earnings reports from other AI-related companies that have raised market expectations [1] - Morgan Stanley suggests that Coherent's stock may remain "underappreciated" in the current market environment [1]

Core Insights - Coherent Corp.'s stock price has increased by 13.9% over the past three months, outperforming the industry average of 12% and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's growth of 9.3% [1][7] - The company reported a significant revenue increase of 51% for fiscal 2025, primarily driven by a 61% surge in the data center market [5][7] - Coherent Corp. is developing new products, including 1.6T and 3.2T transceivers, and has increased its indium phosphide capacity by three times year-over-year to meet rising demand [6][8] Financial Performance - In the year-to-date period, Coherent Corp. experienced a 4.5% decline, contrasting with Microvast's 28% rise and Vimeo's 35.6% decline [4] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of 19.02, which is lower than the industry average of 25.94, and an EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 11.98 compared to the industry's 36.38 [12] - Coherent Corp. has a return on equity (ROE) of 12.2%, significantly higher than the industry's 6%, and a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 6.1%, compared to the industry's -9.1% [15] Market Growth and Future Prospects - The company expects fiscal 2026 revenues to reach $6.7 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 9.7%, with further growth of 13.8% anticipated for fiscal 2027 [20] - Analysts have revised EPS estimates upward for both fiscal 2026 and 2027, reflecting confidence in the company's performance [21] - Coherent Corp. has secured a multi-year agreement with Apple for new Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser products, expected to contribute to revenue in the second half of 2026 [10] Product Development and Strategic Initiatives - The company began initial revenue shipments of its Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) in fiscal 2025, with the global OCS market projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2025 to 2030 [9] - Revenue from communications increased by 42% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, driven by demand for high-capacity coherent transceivers [11] - Coherent Corp. is taking significant steps in co-packaged optics-related technologies, which are expected to provide cost and volume advantages [8]

Summary of Conference Call Records Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the optical communication sector, focusing on two companies: Lumentum (LITE) and Coherent (COHR) [1][2]. Key Points from Lumentum (LITE) - **Revenue Growth**: LITE reported a 55.9% year-over-year increase in revenue to USD 480.7 million for 4QFY25, with a turnaround to a GAAP net income of USD 213.3 million from a net loss of USD 252.5 million a year prior [2][4]. - **Future Guidance**: Management provided guidance for 1QFY26E revenue between USD 510 million and USD 540 million, indicating a quarter-over-quarter growth of 6% to 12% and a year-over-year growth of 51% to 60% [2][4]. - **Product Demand**: Strong demand from hyperscale cloud customers is driving growth, particularly in the Cloud and Networking segment, which saw a 67% year-over-year increase [2][4]. - **EML Chip Shipments**: Achieved an all-time high in EML chip shipments, nearly doubling revenue compared to the previous year. Transitioning from 3-inch to 4-inch wafers to increase capacity, with potential future moves to 6-inch wafers [4]. - **Major Orders**: Received a substantial order for 200G EML chips, expected to be fulfilled in the December quarter, with 2026 anticipated as a breakout year for 100G and 200G laser chip shipments [4]. - **OCS Expansion**: Expanding Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) capacity in Thailand, with leadership in optical performance expected to capture demand ahead of competitors [5]. Key Points from Coherent (COHR) - **Revenue Performance**: COHR recorded a 16.4% year-over-year revenue growth in 4QFY25, reaching USD 942 million in the data center and communications segment, which contributed 62% of total revenue [6][7]. - **Guidance Shortfall**: Management's guidance for 1QFY26 revenue between USD 1.46 billion and USD 1.60 billion indicates an 8% to 18.6% year-over-year growth, but this fell short of market expectations [6][7]. - **Transceiver Development**: The company began shipments of its 1.6T transceiver in 4QFY25, with expectations for meaningful revenue contributions in FY26. Development of 3.2T transceiver products is ongoing [7]. - **Divestiture Strategy**: The divestiture of the Aerospace & Defense business for USD 400 million is a strategic move to streamline COHR's portfolio, expected to close in 1QFY26 [7]. Additional Insights - **Market Dynamics**: The strong demand for AI infrastructure from global hyperscale AI and cloud players is expected to support sequential growth for optical transceiver players in China [1]. - **Supply Chain Considerations**: Continued supply tightness of key components, particularly optical chips, may benefit optical chip manufacturers [1]. This summary encapsulates the essential insights from the conference call, highlighting the performance and strategic outlook of Lumentum and Coherent within the optical communication industry.

Core Viewpoint - The global AI infrastructure boom is creating a significant supply-demand imbalance in the optical communication industry, leading to unprecedented profit opportunities for the entire supply chain, particularly benefiting upstream chip manufacturers [3][4]. Group 1: Industry Trends - The optical communication industry is experiencing a structural shortage driven by AI, which is expected to sustain its growth and profitability beyond market expectations [3]. - The demand from global hyperscale AI and cloud service providers is expected to support the continuous growth of Chinese optical transceiver manufacturers [4]. Group 2: Company Performance - Lumentum (LITE) reported impressive results with Q4 FY25 revenue of $480.7 million, a year-on-year increase of 55.9%, and a turnaround from a net loss of $252.5 million to a profit of $213.3 million [5]. - LITE's forward guidance for Q1 FY26 estimates revenue between $510 million and $540 million, representing a quarter-on-quarter growth of 6%-12% and a year-on-year growth of 51%-60% [5]. - Coherent (COHR) showed stable growth, with Q4 FY25 revenue increasing by 16.4% year-on-year, driven by strong performance in the data center segment [7]. Group 3: Chip Supply and Demand - The EML chip supply bottleneck is highlighting opportunities in the industry, with LITE achieving record EML chip shipments and nearly doubling revenue year-on-year [6]. - LITE is transitioning from 3-inch wafers to 4-inch wafers to alleviate chip shortages, with plans to upgrade to 6-inch wafers in the future [6]. - The year 2026 is anticipated to be a breakthrough year for the shipment of 100G and 200G laser chips [7]. Group 4: Data Center Business - The data center and communication business contributed 62% of total revenue, growing 39% year-on-year to $942 million [8]. - The company began shipping 1.6T transceivers in Q2 and expects significant revenue contributions from these products in FY26 [8].

Core Insights - The strong performance of Lumentum (LITE) and Coherent (COHR) in Q2 indicates a significant supply-demand imbalance in the optical communication industry driven by the global AI infrastructure boom [1] - Nomura Securities suggests that the current AI-driven optical communication industry cycle has greater sustainability and growth potential than previously expected, creating unprecedented profit opportunities across the supply chain [1] Company Performance - Lumentum reported Q4 FY25 revenue of $480.7 million, a year-over-year increase of 55.9%, with GAAP net profit turning from a loss of $252.5 million in the same period last year to a profit of $213.3 million [2] - Lumentum's forward guidance for Q1 FY26 estimates revenue between $510 million and $540 million, representing a quarter-over-quarter growth of 6%-12% and a year-over-year growth of 51%-60% [2] - Coherent's Q4 FY25 revenue grew by 16.4% year-over-year, with non-GAAP earnings increasing by 73.6% to $192 million, driven by strong performance in the data center segment [2] Market Dynamics - The EML chip supply bottleneck is creating significant opportunities for the optical communication industry, with Lumentum transitioning from 3-inch wafers to 4-inch wafers to alleviate chip shortages [3] - The data center and communication segments contributed 62% of total revenue, which grew by 39% year-over-year to $942 million [4] - The company began shipping 1.6T transceivers in Q2 and expects meaningful revenue contributions from these products in FY26 [4]