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.

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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

Q2 Earnings Roundup: Amtech (NASDAQ:ASYS) And The Rest Of The Semiconductor Manufacturing Segment

ASYS Cover Image

Wrapping up Q2 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the semiconductor manufacturing stocks, including Amtech (NASDAQ: ASYS) and its peers.

The semiconductor industry is driven by demand for advanced electronic products like smartphones, PCs, servers, and data storage. The need for technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and smart cars is also creating the next wave of growth for the industry. Keeping up with this dynamism requires new tools that can design, fabricate, and test chips at ever smaller sizes and more complex architectures, creating a dire need for semiconductor capital manufacturing equipment.

The 14 semiconductor manufacturing stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.8% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Luckily, semiconductor manufacturing stocks have performed well with share prices up 13.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Amtech (NASDAQ: ASYS)

Focusing on the silicon carbide and power semiconductor sectors, Amtech Systems (NASDAQ: ASYS) produces the machinery and related chemicals needed for manufacturing semiconductors.

Amtech reported revenues of $19.56 million, down 23.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 15%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but revenue guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

Amtech Total Revenue

Amtech achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat but had the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 98.4% since reporting and currently trades at $8.89.

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

Best Q2: IPG Photonics (NASDAQ: IPGP)

Both a designer and manufacturer of its products, IPG Photonics (NASDAQ: IPGP) is a provider of high-performance fiber lasers used for cutting, welding, and processing raw materials.

IPG Photonics reported revenues of $250.7 million, down 2.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.4%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and adjusted operating income estimates.

IPG Photonics Total Revenue

The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 4.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $80.95.

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

Weakest Q2: FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM)

With customers across the foundry and fabless markets, FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) is a US-based provider of test and measurement technologies for semiconductors.

FormFactor reported revenues of $195.8 million, flat year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 3.4%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 10.3% since the results and currently trades at $30.88.

Read our full analysis of FormFactor’s results here.

Amkor (NASDAQ: AMKR)

Operating through a largely Asian facility footprint, Amkor Technologies (NASDAQ: AMKR) provides outsourced packaging and testing for semiconductors.

Amkor reported revenues of $1.51 billion, up 3.4% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 6.3%. It was a very strong quarter as it also put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is up 19.5% since reporting and currently trades at $25.38.

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

Nova (NASDAQ: NVMI)

Headquartered in Israel, Nova (NASDAQ: NVMI) is a provider of quality control systems used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Nova reported revenues of $220 million, up 40.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 11.5% since reporting and currently trades at $287.70.

Read our full, actionable report on Nova 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% in November), 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 potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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