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AAOI vs LASR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AAOI) vs. nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AAOI has surged over 400% year-to-date (YTD), dramatically outperforming LASR's approximately 83% YTD gain, driven by AI data center demand.
- Both companies operate in photonics and operate in the technology sector, benefiting from advanced optics trends in AI infrastructure and defense applications.
- AAOI received a $20.9 million Texas grant for manufacturing expansion, boosting recent sentiment and stock highs.
- LASR expanded operations in Italy for directed energy programs, signaling defense-led growth potential.
- Valuations appear stretched for both, with AAOI at elevated price-to-sales (P/S) multiples amid rapid revenue ramps.
- High volatility characterizes relative performance, with AAOI showing stronger momentum in recent market activity.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines AAOI and LASR, two photonics specialists riding waves of demand in AI data centers and defense technologies. Traders eyeing high-growth tech plays and investors tracking optical component suppliers will find value in contrasting their business models, recent momentum, and market positioning. Both stocks have posted triple-digit one-year returns, but divergent catalysts shape their trajectories in the current environment of AI expansion and geopolitical tensions. This analysis highlights key metrics and developments for informed relative performance evaluation.
AAOI Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AAOI) designs, manufactures, and sells fiber-optic networking products, primarily transceivers for data centers and telecom. The company has capitalized on surging demand for high-speed optics like 800G and 1.6T modules amid AI infrastructure buildouts. In recent weeks, AAOI shares reached all-time highs, propelled by a $20.9 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant to advance manufacturing in Sugar Land and expand Houston-area facilities. Year-to-date returns exceed 400%, with market cap around $14.2 billion, reflecting robust revenue growth to $456 million trailing twelve months (TTM). Sentiment has shifted positively on AI transceiver orders and capacity ramps, though analysts note stretched valuations.
LASR Overview and Recent Performance
nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR) provides high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace/defense applications. Recent market activity shows focus shifting toward directed energy and defense programs, with expansion of Torino, Italy operations to support European and allied needs. The stock has gained about 83% YTD, with market cap near $3.9 billion, following record Q4 2025 results and strong guidance. TTM revenue stands at approximately $81 million in recent quarters, aided by laser sensing growth. However, shares face valuation scrutiny and competition pressures, contributing to moderated momentum compared to peers.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
AAOI and LASR both leverage photonics expertise in the technology sector but diverge in focus: AAOI emphasizes data communications optics for AI hyperscalers, while LASR targets industrial and defense lasers. Growth drivers contrast with AAOI's AI transceiver ramps versus LASR's directed energy backlog. Recent momentum favors AAOI with explosive gains and grants, against LASR's steady defense pivot. Risks include high volatility, execution on capacity, and premium valuations (e.g., elevated P/E and P/S ratios). Sector exposure ties both to semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, but AAOI shows stronger AI sentiment tailwinds.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models would currently favor AAOI over LASR, citing superior trend consistency, explosive YTD performance, and near-term catalysts like manufacturing grants and AI optics demand. While LASR offers defense stability, AAOI's relative positioning in high-growth data centers provides higher probabilistic upside in prevailing market dynamics.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AAOI is a Hold and LASR is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AAOI’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileLASR’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- AAOI’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- LASR’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AAOI’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while LASR’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AAOI’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- LASR’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 7 bearish.
Price Growth
AAOI (@Telecommunications Equipment) experienced а -4.49% price change this week, while LASR (@Semiconductors) price change was +5.79% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Telecommunications Equipment industry was +6.05%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.41%, and the average quarterly price growth was +65.00%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +4.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.81%, and the average quarterly price growth was +92.59%.
Reported Earning Dates
AAOI is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
LASR is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Telecommunications Equipment (+6.05% weekly)The Telecommunications Equipment industry produces voice and data communications equipment, which includes fiber optic delivery products, digital signal processors, high-speed voice, data and video delivery. Additionally, satellite systems, global positioning systems, wireless data systems, personal communications equipment, telephone handsets and payload equipment for satellites also fall into this category. Apple Inc., QUALCOMM Incorporated and Nokia are major global players in this segment.
@Semiconductors (+4.34% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| AAOI | LASR | AAOI / LASR | |
| Capitalization | 13.6B | 3.93B | 346% |
| EBITDA | -16.14M | 1.18M | -1,370% |
| Gain YTD | 384.940 | 85.710 | 449% |
| P/E Ratio | N/A | N/A | - |
| Revenue | 507M | 290M | 175% |
| Total Cash | 440M | 333M | 132% |
| Total Debt | 280M | 35.6M | 787% |
AAOI | LASR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 71 | 69 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 60 Fair valued | 82 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 35 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 94 | 93 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 34 | 36 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 6 | 19 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | n/a |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
AAOI's Valuation (60) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as LASR (82) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that AAOI’s stock grew similarly to LASR’s over the last 12 months.
AAOI's Profit vs Risk Rating (17) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as LASR (35) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that AAOI’s stock grew similarly to LASR’s over the last 12 months.
LASR's SMR Rating (93) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as AAOI (94) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that LASR’s stock grew similarly to AAOI’s over the last 12 months.
AAOI's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as LASR (36) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that AAOI’s stock grew similarly to LASR’s over the last 12 months.
AAOI's P/E Growth Rating (6) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as LASR (19) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that AAOI’s stock grew similarly to LASR’s over the last 12 months.
| AAOI | LASR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 82% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 86% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 90% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 90% | 3 days ago 73% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 85% | 3 days ago 80% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 86% | 3 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 86% | 20 days ago 77% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 86% | 5 days ago 79% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 4 days ago 90% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 90% | 3 days ago 87% |
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AAOI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AAOI has been loosely correlated with LITE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 58% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if AAOI jumps, then LITE could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To AAOI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAOI | 100% | -2.16% | ||
| LITE - AAOI | 58% Loosely correlated | +3.59% | ||
| CIEN - AAOI | 50% Loosely correlated | +0.17% | ||
| LASR - AAOI | 47% Loosely correlated | -0.76% | ||
| NVDA - AAOI | 45% Loosely correlated | +0.16% | ||
| MPWR - AAOI | 44% Loosely correlated | -0.77% | ||
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LASR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LASR has been loosely correlated with MPWR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 53% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if LASR jumps, then MPWR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To LASR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LASR | 100% | -0.76% | ||
| MPWR - LASR | 53% Loosely correlated | -0.77% | ||
| KLIC - LASR | 53% Loosely correlated | +1.17% | ||
| RMBS - LASR | 52% Loosely correlated | +1.45% | ||
| SMTC - LASR | 52% Loosely correlated | +1.92% | ||
| IPGP - LASR | 52% Loosely correlated | +3.11% | ||
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