AI optics: bandwidth becomes supplier earnings
AI optics: bandwidth becomes supplier earnings
Increasing optical content in AI networks will sustain supplier demand and margin gains through the next two reporting cycles, before added capacity or substitution removes the advantage.
Watch for: COHR Q4 earnings Aug 2026 (does datacenter growth hold or decelerate after the confirmed May 6 Q3 print), AAOI 1.6T shipments Q3 2026 (Wave 3 validation), LWLG SilTerra tapeout mid-2026 (Wave 4 viability), SIVEF Q4 conversion plus gross-margin and operating-cash-burn normalization (the test of whether its funded pipeline becomes investable economics), NVIDIA Spectrum-X Photonics CPO H2 2026 (Wave 4 catalyst + power-delivery proof point), NVIDIA Quantum-X Photonics ramp (power-budget driven), ALMU pivot validation (TSEM partnership / IP / production capacity disclosures), Aschenbrenner Q2 13F 2026-08-15 (does he re-establish any optical exposure or stay absent — partial un-contest vs hardened...
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The Thread
The thesis as it unfolds — by source type (the symbol grid above is the current state).
Recent Shifts
10Signals
1Research
17Captures
17Calendar & Lifecycle
40Convequity — Lumentum's laser demand rides on CPO design choices that are still open
Convequity — Lumentum's laser demand rides on CPO design choices that are still open
Serenity — Lumentum's CEO says the company can supply only 30% of 2027 demand as co-packaged optics arrive
Serenity — Lumentum's CEO says the company can supply only 30% of 2027 demand as co-packaged optics arrive
KawzInvests — Credo's growth beyond copper: optics above $600M in FY27 plus a 1.6T AEC ramp
KawzInvests — Credo's growth beyond copper: optics above $600M in FY27 plus a 1.6T AEC ramp
Serenity — Morgan Stanley hears 3.2T Chinese transceiver curbs are coming, with a 65% US-content escape hatch
Serenity — Morgan Stanley hears 3.2T Chinese transceiver curbs are coming, with a 65% US-content escape hatch
Vik's Newsletter — ECOC 2026 product announcements around optical scale-up
Vik's Newsletter — ECOC 2026 product announcements around optical scale-up
Serenity — Foxconn's interconnect chairman names CW lasers and fiber the photonics bottleneck
Serenity — Foxconn's interconnect chairman names CW lasers and fiber the photonics bottleneck
Terry — Citi Global TMT readout: NAND TAM $50B to $500B by 2027, AMD CPU TAM $60B to $220B, optical testing capacity about 100x short
Terry — Citi Global TMT readout: NAND TAM $50B to $500B by 2027, AMD CPU TAM $60B to $220B, optical testing capacity about 100x short
Serenity - Broadcom's CEO: laser demand "far surpassing supply"
Serenity - Broadcom's CEO: laser demand "far surpassing supply"
Viks Newsletter — where copper and optics still contradict each other
Viks Newsletter — where copper and optics still contradict each other
Photon Capital — COHR’s AI mix and InP capacity ramp
Photon Capital — COHR’s AI mix and InP capacity ramp
Gaetano (crux_capital_) — the market sold off the wrong optical name: his bull case for why AXTI's China selloff is negotiating leverage, not a real ban
Gaetano (crux_capital_) — the market sold off the wrong optical name: his bull case for why AXTI's China selloff is negotiating leverage, not a real ban
Serenity (aleabitoreddit) — AAOI's earnings call says China is years behind on CPO lasers, and AAOI itself is capacity-out of first-gen CPO
ChurchillWw — ZEISS is expanding all three of its main German optics plants at once
ChurchillWw — ZEISS is expanding all three of its main German optics plants at once
crux_capital_ — the photonics buildout isn't over, even at the height of fear
crux_capital_ — the photonics buildout isn't over, even at the height of fear
AXT — Tongmei withdraws Shanghai STAR IPO bid, pivots to Hong Kong listing for InP business
AXT — Tongmei withdraws Shanghai STAR IPO bid, pivots to Hong Kong listing for InP business
Viks Newsletter — Lasers for CPO/NPO, Part 1: how the InP DFB laser works and where it hits a wall
Viks Newsletter — Lasers for CPO/NPO, Part 1: how the InP DFB laser works and where it hits a wall
Nutty — Investor's Handbook III: Substrate, where glass packaging starts getting paid
Nutty — Investor's Handbook III: Substrate, where glass packaging starts getting paid
the two real bear cases for the photonics supercycle (laser oversupply vs VCSEL-over-SiPh)
the two real bear cases for the photonics supercycle (laser oversupply vs VCSEL-over-SiPh)