Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.07 EPS

Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) released its earnings results on Wednesday. The semiconductor company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.54 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $225.07 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $220.09 million. Photronics had a net margin of 16.06% and a return on equity of 7.87%. The firm’s revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.52 earnings per share. Photronics updated its Q2 2026 guidance to 0.490-0.550 EPS.

Photronics Price Performance

Photronics stock traded up $5.45 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $43.44. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,399,063 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,212,274. The company has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.97 and a beta of 1.52. Photronics has a 1-year low of $16.46 and a 1-year high of $45.40. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $35.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $27.66.

Trending Headlines about Photronics

Here are the key news stories impacting Photronics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat on both EPS and revenue, with margin and ROE improving — the core fundamental driver lifting the stock. Photronics Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Company reported record high-end IC revenue, a product mix win that analysts cited when the stock hit a 52-week high. Why Photronics Stock Just Hit 52-Week High
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large call-option activity (5,920 calls, ~194% above average) signals short-term bullish positioning by traders, which can amplify upside on positive news.
• Neutral Sentiment: Q2 guidance is roughly in line on EPS (0.490–0.550 vs. 0.500 consensus) but revenue guidance $212M–$220M sits slightly below consensus — implies cautious near-term demand outlook; investor decks and the press release are available for details. Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary flags a strong 1‑year rally (~71.7%) — raising valuation and “too late to buy” narratives that could limit further upside or increase volatility on any mixed forward commentary. Is It Too Late To Consider Photronics (PLAB) After Its 1-Year 71.7% Rally?

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Han Kyung Park sold 13,750 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.99, for a total transaction of $522,362.50. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 89,250 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,390,607.50. This represents a 13.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Mary Paladino sold 11,250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.11, for a total transaction of $394,987.50. Following the sale, the director owned 23,820 shares in the company, valued at $836,320.20. This represents a 32.08% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 181,250 shares of company stock worth $6,317,150 in the last quarter. Insiders own 3.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Photronics

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new position in shares of Photronics during the fourth quarter worth $409,000. Nebula Research & Development LLC increased its holdings in Photronics by 10.7% in the second quarter. Nebula Research & Development LLC now owns 23,815 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $448,000 after purchasing an additional 2,297 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its position in Photronics by 2,464.1% during the 3rd quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 21,615 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $496,000 after purchasing an additional 20,772 shares during the last quarter. MML Investors Services LLC acquired a new position in Photronics during the 4th quarter worth about $430,000. Finally, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Photronics during the 4th quarter worth about $390,000. 88.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PLAB has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Photronics from $30.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Photronics in a report on Monday, December 29th. Craig Hallum upped their price objective on Photronics from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Photronics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Photronics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $43.50.

Photronics Company Profile

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.