RBC Initiates Astera Labs (ALAB) at Outperform, Sees Retimer Growth and Scorpio Ramp Driving Upside

Core Viewpoint - Astera Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALAB) is gaining attention in the AI sector, with RBC Capital initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and a price target of $225, driven by strong retimer growth and Scorpio-P switch ramp [1][3] Group 1: Company Performance - Astera Labs has faced underperformance recently due to concerns regarding next-generation networking standards and potential impacts from Google TPU advancements on key customers like Nvidia and Amazon [2] - Despite recent challenges, the company's near-term fundamentals remain strong, supported by core retimer growth and the ramp-up of Scorpio-P switches [3] - The Scorpio-X scale-up switch is on track for a 2026 ramp, presenting a significant multi-year opportunity, even with lower volumes from Amazon's Trainium [3] Group 2: Market Potential - Astera Labs is positioned in a market with a $10–15 billion Serviceable Available Market (SAM) and is expected to achieve over 40% growth with gross margins exceeding 70% [3] - The company may have opportunities to participate in multiple scale-up standards, including Ethernet/ESU, in the long term [3]