Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB – Get Free Report) issued an update on its fourth quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 0.400-0.560 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.420. The company issued revenue guidance of $207.0 million-$227.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $216.3 million.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
PLAB has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut Photronics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, June 13th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Photronics to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Lake Street Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of Photronics in a report on Friday, May 1st. Craig Hallum reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Photronics in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Photronics to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $49.33.
View Our Latest Report on Photronics
Photronics Stock Performance
Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 26th. The semiconductor company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.10. Photronics had a return on equity of 7.69% and a net margin of 18.47%.The business had revenue of $216.05 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.75 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 earnings per share. Photronics’s revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Photronics has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.400-0.560 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Photronics will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
More Photronics News
Here are the key news stories impacting Photronics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Strong Q3 results: Photronics reported adjusted EPS of $0.50, beating the $0.40 consensus estimate, while revenue increased 2.7% year over year to approximately $216.1 million, ahead of expectations near $208.8 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.49, and net income rose to $28.9 million from $22.9 million a year earlier. Photronics Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
- Positive Sentiment: Improving chip-mask demand: Integrated-circuit photomask revenue rose 5% year over year and sequentially to $154.7 million. High-end IC products represented a record 44% of IC revenue, while management said previously delayed semiconductor design releases returned during the quarter, supporting revenue and margins. Photronics gains after Q3 revenue and earnings beat expectations
- Positive Sentiment: Resilient Q4 outlook and balance sheet: Fourth-quarter guidance calls for non-GAAP EPS of $0.40 to $0.56 and revenue of $207 million to $227 million. The company ended the quarter with $672.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and generated $76.3 million in operating cash flow. Why Is Photronics Stock Soaring Wednesday?
- Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and technical context: PLAB trades near $30.25 with a reported PE ratio of 11.04, below its 200-day moving average of $37.45 but close to its 50-day average of $30.82. Analysts cited in the reports have price targets of $41 to $46, but the stock remains well below its 52-week high of $56.
- Negative Sentiment: Class-action litigation: Several law firms announced or promoted a securities-fraud lawsuit covering investors who purchased Photronics securities from December 10, 2025, through May 27, 2026. The allegations concern whether the company misled investors about demand and the outlook for its high-end IC photomask business. The lead-plaintiff deadline is September 4, 2026. The allegations have not been proven, but the litigation could increase costs and investor uncertainty. Photronics Securities Lawsuit Announcement
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Photronics
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in Photronics by 395.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,536,374 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $49,164,000 after acquiring an additional 1,226,588 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of Photronics by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 18,849 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $603,000 after acquiring an additional 1,346 shares during the period. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Photronics in the 4th quarter valued at about $390,000. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in Photronics by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 285,602 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $9,139,000 after purchasing an additional 2,828 shares during the period. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Photronics during the 4th quarter worth about $969,000. Institutional investors own 88.38% of the company’s stock.
About Photronics
Photronics, Inc is a leading global supplier of photomask products used in the manufacture of integrated circuits, flat panel displays, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and advanced packaging applications. Photomasks, also known as reticles, are critical templates that carry the precise circuit patterns required for semiconductor lithography processes. The company offers a comprehensive range of mask solutions, including binary masks, attenuated phase-shift masks, reticles for micro-optics, and specialized products for high‐resolution applications.
Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Brookfield, Connecticut, Photronics has grown through organic expansion and strategic investments in high‐end lithography technology.
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