Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Q3 Earnings Highs And Lows: Universal Display (NASDAQ:OLED) Vs The Rest Of The Analog Semiconductors Stocks

OLED Cover Image

As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at analog semiconductors stocks, starting with Universal Display (NASDAQ: OLED).

Demand for analog chips is generally linked to the overall level of economic growth, as analog chips serve as the building blocks of most electronic goods and equipment. Unlike digital chip designers, analog chip makers tend to produce the majority of their own chips, as analog chip production does not require expensive leading edge nodes. Less dependent on major secular growth drivers, analog product cycles are much longer, often 5-7 years.

The 15 analog semiconductors stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 3.2% below.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 7% since the latest earnings results.

Universal Display (NASDAQ: OLED)

Serving major consumer electronics manufacturers, Universal Display (NASDAQ: OLED) is a provider of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies used in display and lighting applications.

Universal Display reported revenues of $161.6 million, up 14.6% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

“With strong year-to-date results, we are on track to achieve record revenues, earnings, and operating cash flow in 2024 as we continue our growth trajectory. The rate of growth this year, though, is expected to be more modest than previously projected. With recent updates to customer order expectations for the fourth quarter, we are lowering our 2024 revenue forecast range to $625 million to $645 million,” said Brian Millard, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Display Corporation.

Universal Display Total Revenue

Universal Display scored the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 32% since reporting and currently trades at $155.84.

Is now the time to buy Universal Display? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Impinj (NASDAQ: PI)

Founded by Caltech professor Carver Mead and one of his students Chris Diorio, Impinj (NASDAQ: PI) is a maker of radio-frequency identification (RFID) hardware and software.

Impinj reported revenues of $95.2 million, up 46.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Impinj Total Revenue

Impinj delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 32% since reporting. It currently trades at $150.40.

Is now the time to buy Impinj? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q3: Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE: VSH)

Named after the founder's ancestral village in present-day Lithuania, Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE: VSH) manufactures simple chips and electronic components that are building blocks of virtually all types of electronic devices.

Vishay Intertechnology reported revenues of $735.4 million, down 13.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Vishay Intertechnology delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 4.6% since the results and currently trades at $17.83.

Read our full analysis of Vishay Intertechnology’s results here.

MACOM (NASDAQ: MTSI)

Founded in the 1950s as Microwave Associates, a communications supplier to the US Army Signal Corp, today MACOM Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: MTSI) is a provider of analog chips used in optical, wireless, and satellite networks.

MACOM reported revenues of $200.7 million, up 33.5% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded revenue guidance for next quarter beating analysts’ expectations but a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is up 13% since reporting and currently trades at $138.

Read our full, actionable report on MACOM here, it’s free.

Monolithic Power Systems (NASDAQ: MPWR)

Founded in 1997 by its longtime CEO Michael Hsing, Monolithic Power Systems (NASDAQ: MPWR) is an analog and mixed signal chipmaker that specializes in power management chips meant to minimize total energy consumption.

Monolithic Power Systems reported revenues of $620.1 million, up 30.6% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up a significant improvement in its inventory levels and a decent beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 31.4% since reporting and currently trades at $630.

Read our full, actionable report on Monolithic Power Systems here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September, a quarter in November) have kept 2024 stock markets frothy, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there's still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Strong Momentum Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

Join Paid Stock Investor Research

Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.

More News

View More

Recent Quotes

View More
Symbol Price Change (%)
AMZN  216.48
+3.44 (1.61%)
AAPL  262.24
+9.95 (3.94%)
AMD  240.56
+7.48 (3.21%)
BAC  52.04
+0.76 (1.48%)
GOOG  257.02
+3.23 (1.27%)
META  732.17
+15.26 (2.13%)
MSFT  516.79
+3.21 (0.63%)
NVDA  182.64
-0.58 (-0.32%)
ORCL  277.18
-14.13 (-4.85%)
TSLA  447.43
+8.12 (1.85%)
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.