Looking back on electronic components stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including nLIGHT (NASDAQ: LASR) and its peers.

Like many equipment and component manufacturers, electronic components companies are buoyed by secular trends such as connectivity and industrial automation. More specific pockets of strong demand include data centers and telecommunications, which can benefit companies whose optical and transceiver offerings fit those markets. But like the broader industrials sector, these companies are also at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending, for example, can greatly impact these companies’ volumes.

The 10 electronic components stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% below.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 9.9% since the latest earnings results.

nLIGHT (NASDAQ: LASR)

Founded by a former CEO and Harvard-educated entrepreneur Scott Keeneyn, nLIGHT (NASDAQ: LASR) offers semiconductor and fiber lasers to the industrial, aerospace & defense, and medical sectors.

nLIGHT reported revenues of $47.38 million, down 8.7% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

“2024 was a transformative year for nLIGHT as our defense business began to scale, with revenue growing 20% year-over-year to $110 million and representing approximately 55% of our overall sales,” commented Scott Keeney, nLIGHT’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

nLIGHT delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. The stock is down 14.6% since reporting and currently trades at $7.75.

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

Best Q4: Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS)

Pioneering technologies for radio frequency power delivery, Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS) provides power supplies, thermal management systems, and measurement and control instruments for various manufacturing processes.

Advanced Energy reported revenues of $415.4 million, up 2.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 16% since reporting. It currently trades at $93.39.

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

Slowest Q4: Vishay Precision (NYSE: VPG)

Emerging from Vishay Intertechnology in 2010, Vishay Precision (NYSE: VPG) operates as a global provider of precision measurement and sensing technologies.

Vishay Precision reported revenues of $72.65 million, down 18.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Vishay Precision delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $24.20.

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

Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS)

The developer of the first blade-type automotive fuse, Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) provides electrical protection and control components for the automotive, industrial, electronics, and telecommunications industries.

Littelfuse reported revenues of $529.5 million, flat year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1%. However, it was a slower quarter as it produced EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations and a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 10.5% since reporting and currently trades at $200.36.

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

Vicor (NASDAQ: VICR)

Founded by a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vicor (NASDAQ: VICR) provides electrical power conversion and delivery products for a range of industries.

Vicor reported revenues of $96.17 million, up 3.8% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 5.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 7.6% since reporting and currently trades at $47.91.

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

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