Why POET’s AI-Focused Optical Strategy Earned a Fresh Boost From Northland in December

Group 1: Company Overview - POET Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:POET) is recognized as one of the fastest-growing semiconductor stocks, with a recent price target increase from $7 to $8 by Northland, maintaining an Outperform rating [1] - The company specializes in designing and developing high-speed optical engines, light sources, and custom optical modules specifically for AI systems and hyperscale data centers [4] Group 2: Strategic Collaborations and Developments - On November 11, 2025, POET announced a collaboration with Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) to co-develop 3.2 Tbps optical engines aimed at enhancing co-packaged optics (CPO) and next-generation AI connectivity [2] - The project focuses on 400G-per-lane thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) modulators integrated on the POET Optical Interposer™, with development funded by POET and targeted for completion in the second half of 2026 [3] Group 3: Market Potential and Demand - The market for 3.2T solutions in pluggable and CPO formats is projected to reach $12 billion by 2030, indicating significant growth potential for POET's offerings [4] - The demand for higher bandwidth in AI data centers and hyperscalers is driving the need for advanced connectivity solutions, positioning POET's TFLN-based modulator as a critical innovation [3]