<div id="readability-page-1"><p>Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB - Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The semiconductor company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. Photronics had a net margin of 16.06% and a return on equity of 7.87%. The firm had revenue of $225.07 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.09 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.52 EPS. The company's revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis.  Photronics updated its Q2 2026 guidance to 0.490-0.550 EPS.</p><h2>Photronics Stock Up 12.6%</h2><ul><li>AI &amp; Quantum's Next Big Winners: 3 Small-Cap Stocks to Watch in 2026</li></ul><p>Shares of PLAB traded up $4.80 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $42.79. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,201,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,204,938. The company has a market cap of $2.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a fifty day moving average of $35.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.66. Photronics has a twelve month low of $16.46 and a twelve month high of $45.40. </p><h2>Insider Activity at Photronics</h2><p>In related news, Director Kang Jyh Lee sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.53, for a total transaction of $770,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 493,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,008,775.50. This trade represents a 3.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities &amp; Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Mary Paladino sold 11,250 shares of Photronics stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.11, for a total value of $394,987.50. Following the sale, the director directly owned 23,820 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $836,320.20. The trade was a 32.08% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 181,250 shares of company stock worth $6,317,150 in the last 90 days. 3.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. </p><h2>Institutional Investors Weigh In On Photronics</h2><ul><li>Buy the Dip: Top Tech Stocks Analysts Say Are Undervalued</li></ul><p>A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of  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 buying an additional 1,226,588 shares in the last quarter.  Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in  Photronics by 2,201.5% in the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 621,448 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $19,883,000 after acquiring an additional 594,446 shares during the last quarter.  Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in  Photronics in the third quarter worth approximately $8,416,000.  Norges Bank bought a new stake in  Photronics in the fourth quarter worth approximately $11,540,000.  Finally, Clark Capital Management Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of  Photronics during the 4th quarter worth $8,640,000. 88.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. </p><h2>Wall Street Analyst Weigh In</h2><p>Several research firms have recently issued reports on PLAB. DA Davidson increased their price objective on shares of Photronics from $30.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a &#34;buy&#34; rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research downgraded Photronics from a &#34;strong-buy&#34; rating to a &#34;hold&#34; rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Craig Hallum raised their price objective on Photronics from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a &#34;buy&#34; rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings  reaffirmed a &#34;hold (c+)&#34; rating on shares of Photronics in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One 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 company. According to MarketBeat, Photronics currently has a consensus rating of &#34;Moderate Buy&#34; and a consensus price target of $43.50.</p><ul><li>Photronics Stock Setting Up Next Leg Higher</li></ul><p><b>View Our Latest Research Report on Photronics</b></p><h2>Key Headlines Impacting Photronics</h2><p>Here are the key news stories impacting Photronics this week:</p><ul>   <li><span>Positive Sentiment: </span>Q1 beat on both EPS and revenue, with margin and ROE improving — the core fundamental driver lifting the stock. <i></i><span>Photronics Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results</span></li>    <li><span>Positive Sentiment: </span>Company reported record high-end IC revenue, a product mix win that analysts cited when the stock hit a 52-week high. <i></i><span>Why Photronics Stock Just Hit 52-Week High</span></li>    <li><span>Positive Sentiment: </span>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.</li>    <li><span>Neutral Sentiment: </span>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. <i></i><span>Press Release</span></li>    <li><span>Negative Sentiment: </span>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. <i></i><span>Is It Too Late To Consider Photronics (PLAB) After Its 1-Year 71.7% Rally?</span></li> </ul><h2>About Photronics</h2> (Get Free Report)<p>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.  </p><p>Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Brookfield, Connecticut, Photronics has grown through organic expansion and strategic investments in high‐end lithography technology.</p><h2>See Also</h2><ul><li>Five stocks we like better than Photronics</li><li>The gold chart Wall Street is terrified of…</li><li>America’s 1776 happening again</li><li>This makes me furious</li><li>Buy this Gold Stock Before May 2026</li><li>What a Former CIA Agent Knows About the Coming Collapse</li></ul><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.marketbeat.com/scripts/EarningsChart.ashx/query-UHJlZml4PU5BU0RBUSZTeW1ib2w9UExBQg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="650" height="325" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.marketbeat.com/scripts/EarningsChart.ashx/query-UHJlZml4PU5BU0RBUSZTeW1ib2w9UExBQg"/></p><p><em>This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.</em></p><h2>Should You Invest $1,000 in Photronics Right Now?</h2><p>Before you consider Photronics, you'll want to hear this.</p><p>MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Photronics wasn't on the list.</p><p>While Photronics currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.</p><p>View The Five Stocks Here</p>                  </div>

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PLAB

<p>Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) reported quarterly earnings of $0.61 EPS, exceeding estimates of $0.54 by $0.07. Revenue reached $225.07 million, surpassing expectations of $220.09 million, with a year-over-year increase of 6.1%. The company updated its Q2 2026 guidance to 0.490-0.550 EPS. Following the earnings release, shares rose 12.6% to $42.79. Insider trading activity included significant sales by directors. Institutional investors have increased their stakes, with 88.38% of shares owned by hedge funds. Analysts have mixed ratings, with price targets ranging from $30 to $45.</p>

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