Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) Releases Q4 2026 Earnings Guidance

Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) issued an update on its fourth quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided EPS 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.

Photronics Price Performance

NASDAQ PLAB traded up $0.93 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $30.25. 8,238,378 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,263,536. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $30.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.48. Photronics has a 12-month low of $20.05 and a 12-month high of $56.00. The firm has a market cap of $1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.04 and a beta of 1.38.

Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 26th. The semiconductor company reported $0.50 earnings per share 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 firm had revenue of $216.05 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.75 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.51 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Photronics has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.400-0.560 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Photronics will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PLAB has been the subject of several research reports. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Photronics to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Photronics in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Craig Hallum restated a “buy” rating on shares of Photronics in a report on Friday, May 29th. Lake Street Capital reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Photronics in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Photronics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, June 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Photronics currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $49.33.

Photronics News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Photronics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly beat: Photronics reported adjusted EPS of $0.50, above the $0.40 analyst consensus, while revenue reached approximately $216 million versus expectations of about $209 million. Revenue increased 2.7% year over year, and GAAP diluted EPS was $0.49 compared with $0.51 a year earlier. Photronics Surpasses Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Improving chip-mask demand: Integrated-circuit revenue rose 5% year over year and sequentially to $154.7 million. High-end IC products represented a record 44% of IC revenue, helped by the return of previously delayed semiconductor design releases. Photronics Reports Third-Quarter Results
• Positive Sentiment: Constructive guidance and balance sheet: Management forecast fourth-quarter revenue of $207 million to $227 million and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.40 to $0.56. Photronics ended the quarter with $672.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, supporting investor confidence in its ability to benefit from semiconductor and artificial-intelligence-related demand. Photronics Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary remains mixed: some view Photronics as a potential AI-boom beneficiary and rate the shares a consensus Buy, while others remain unimpressed by the pace and quality of the recovery. Recent reported price targets of $41 and $46 are above the current trading level, but do not guarantee future performance. Photronics Is Quietly Becoming a Key Winner From the AI Boom
• Negative Sentiment: Legal overhang: Multiple law firms are promoting a securities class action covering investors who purchased PLAB securities from December 10, 2025, through May 27, 2026. The lead-plaintiff deadline is September 4, 2026. The allegations remain unproven, but the litigation could add costs and reputational risk. Kaplan Fox Photronics Investor Alert
• Negative Sentiment: Reported insider-trading data shows 27 open-market sales and no purchases over the past six months, a potential confidence signal investors may monitor alongside the earnings recovery.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Photronics

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Photronics in the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Quarry LP increased its stake in shares of Photronics by 569.8% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,353 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 1,151 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its position in Photronics by 723.8% during the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,417 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,245 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd lifted its position in Photronics by 243.8% during the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,499 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,063 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wexford Capital LP bought a new stake in Photronics during the third quarter valued at about $62,000. Institutional investors own 88.38% of the company’s stock.

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.