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

Unpacking Q3 Earnings: Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) In The Context Of Other Processors and Graphics Chips Stocks

QCOM Cover Image

Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q3 behind us, let’s have a look at Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) and its peers.

The biggest demand drivers for processors (CPUs) and graphics chips at the moment are secular trends related to 5G and Internet of Things, autonomous driving, and high performance computing in the data center space, specifically around AI and machine learning. Like all semiconductor companies, digital chip makers exhibit a degree of cyclicality, driven by supply and demand imbalances and exposure to PC and Smartphone product cycles.

The 9 processors and graphics chips stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 4.4% below.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 2.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM)

Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances.

Qualcomm reported revenues of $10.24 billion, up 18.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Qualcomm Total Revenue

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $174.26.

We think Qualcomm is a good business, but is it a buy today? Read our full report here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)

Founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang and two former Sun Microsystems engineers, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is a leading fabless designer of chips used in gaming, PCs, data centers, automotive, and a variety of end markets.

Nvidia reported revenues of $35.08 billion, up 93.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Nvidia Total Revenue

Nvidia delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $146.35.

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

Weakest Q3: SMART (NASDAQ: SGH)

Based in the US, SMART Global Holdings (NASDAQ: SGH) is a diversified semiconductor company offering memory, digital, and LED products.

SMART reported revenues of $311.1 million, down 1.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

SMART delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $21.

Read our full analysis of SMART’s results here.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC)

Inventor of the x86 processor that powered decades of technological innovation in PCs, data centers, and numerous other markets, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a leading manufacturer of computer processors and graphics chips.

Intel reported revenues of $13.28 billion, down 6.2% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $21.53.

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

Allegro MicroSystems (NASDAQ: ALGM)

The result of a spinoff from Sanken in Japan, Allegro MicroSystems (NASDAQ: ALGM) is a designer of power management chips and distance sensors used in electric vehicles and data centers.

Allegro MicroSystems reported revenues of $187.4 million, down 32% year on year. This result met analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a slower quarter as it produced revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 9.4% since reporting and currently trades at $24.31.

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

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed's series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% each in November and December), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump's presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by the pace and magnitude of future rate cuts as well as potential changes in trade policy and corporate taxes once the Trump administration takes over. The path forward is marked by uncertainty.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth 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.

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 following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.