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AXT Inc (AXTI)
NASDAQ:AXTI

AXT (AXTI) AI Stock Analysis

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AXTI

AXT

(NASDAQ:AXTI)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$21.00
▼(-40.14% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:01/31/26
The score is primarily held back by weak financial performance (losses, negative margins, and negative operating cash flow). Technicals are moderately supportive with longer-term trend strength despite near-term softness. Earnings call and corporate events point to improving demand/margins and funded capacity expansion, but export-permit constraints, ongoing losses, and a negative P/E keep overall risk elevated.
Positive Factors
Product and Market Leadership
AXT's specialization in InP, GaAs and GaN substrates is a durable competitive strength: these critical materials underpin high-performance photonic and RF devices. Deep manufacturing know‑how and long-term customer relationships across diversified end markets support steady structural demand and revenue resilience.
Robust Indium Phosphide Backlog
A >$49M InP backlog provides multi-month revenue visibility and validates secular demand from data centers and optical transceivers. This backlog underpins justified capacity investments and reduces near-term revenue volatility, improving the likelihood that unit volumes and margins will scale sustainably as capacity comes online.
Funded Capacity Expansion
The sizable equity raise materially strengthens funding for planned InP capacity expansion and R&D without adding leverage. Financing in place supports the company’s strategy to more than double InP capacity in H2 2026, enabling structural revenue scaling to meet AI and data center demand rather than relying on short-term working capital fixes.
Negative Factors
Weak Profitability and Cash Generation
Persistently negative margins and operating cash flow constrain internal funding for capex and working capital, increasing dependence on external capital. Until profitable operating leverage is consistently achieved, the business remains vulnerable to dilution or higher financing costs, limiting durable shareholder value creation.
Export-Permit Regulatory Risk
Reliance on Chinese export permits creates an enduring operational choke point: shipment timing and revenue recognition can be delayed for months. This regulatory dependency can disrupt customer supply chains, complicate inventory planning and pressure near‑term margins even as demand and capacity improvements are pursued.
Negative ROE and Ongoing Losses
Negative ROE reflects that current capital employed is not delivering positive shareholder returns, a structural concern if persistent. Coupled with recurring net losses, this indicates the company must sustain margin improvement and cash generation over multiple quarters to convert backlog and capacity investments into lasting profitability and return profiles.

AXT (AXTI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AXT Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAXT, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes compound and single element semiconductor substrates. It produces semiconductor substrates using its proprietary vertical gradient freeze technology. The company offers indium phosphide for use in data center connectivity using light/lasers, 5G communications, fiber optic lasers and detectors, passive optical networks, silicon photonics, photonic integrated circuits, terrestrial solar cells, RF amplifier and switching, infrared light-emitting diode (LEDS) motion control, lidar for robotics and autonomous vehicles, and infrared thermal imaging. It also provides semi-insulating gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates for use in Wi-Fi and IoT devices, transistors, direct broadcast television, power amplifiers, satellite communications, and solar cells; and semi-conducting GaAs substrates that are used in LED, screen displays, printer head lasers and LEDs, 3-D sensing using VCSELs, data center communication using VCSELs, sensors for industrial robotics/near-infrared sensors, optical couplers, solar cells, night vision goggles, lidar for robotics and autonomous vehicles, and other lasers, as well as laser machining, cutting, and drilling. In addition, the company offers germanium substrates for use in multi-junction solar cells for satellites, optical sensors and detectors, terrestrial concentrated photo voltaic cells, infrared detectors, and carrier wafer for LED. Further, it provides 6N+ and 7N+ purified gallium, boron trioxide, gallium-magnesium alloy, pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) crucibles, and pBN insulating parts. AXT, Inc. sells its products through direct salesforce in the United States, China, and Europe, as well as through independent sales representatives and distributors in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and internationally. The company was formerly known as American Xtal Technology, Inc. and changed its name to AXT, Inc. in July 2000. AXT, Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyAXT generates revenue through the sale of its compound semiconductor substrates and related products to a diverse range of customers, including manufacturers in the telecommunications, electronics, and renewable energy sectors. Key revenue streams include direct sales of substrates, as well as custom products tailored to specific customer needs. The company benefits from long-term relationships with major clients in the optoelectronic and wireless communication markets, which provide stability and predictability to its revenue. Additionally, AXT's ongoing investments in research and development allow it to innovate and expand its product offerings, creating new revenue opportunities. Strategic partnerships with technology firms and academic institutions also enhance its market reach and contribute to its financial performance.

AXT Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 19, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong demand fundamentals and forward-looking opportunity—backlog >$60M, broadening Tier 1 customer adoption, vertical supply-chain progress, a sizable cash raise, and a concrete capacity expansion plan—balanced against near-term operational and financial headwinds: Q4 revenue declined QoQ, the company remains unprofitable, inventory is elevated, and the ability to convert backlog to revenue is heavily dependent on uncertain China export permits. Management is constructive and has near-term revenue visibility (~$26M for Q1) but recognizes permit unpredictability as the principal risk to execution.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Backlog Reached New High
Indium phosphide backlog exceeded $60.0 million, up from $49.0 million in the prior quarter (increase of >$11.0M, ~>22%), providing strong near- to medium-term revenue visibility.
Substantial Cash Raise Strengthens Balance Sheet
Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased by $97.2 million to $128.4 million as of 12/31/25, primarily from a public offering that generated approximately $93.9 million, providing funding for planned capacity expansion.
Clear Demand Drivers — AI / Data Center Growth
Company expects sequential revenue growth in Q1 driven by indium phosphide for AI/data center build-out; China data center–related revenue expected to grow by more than 60% in Q1 versus Q4.
Capacity Expansion Roadmap
AXT added ~25% capacity since the prior report and is on track to double capacity from Q4 2025 levels by end of 2026 (estimated run-rate ~ $35M/quarter); planned near-term CapEx for this phase ~ $30M, with potential further expansion in 2027 (additional $100–150M for greenfield).
Improved Profitability Trends Year-over-Year
Non-GAAP operating loss narrowed to $2.6M in Q4 2025 from $5.4M in Q4 2024 (improvement of $2.8M, ~52% improvement) and non-GAAP net loss improved to $2.6M from $4.2M year-over-year (~38% improvement).
Diversifying Customer Base and Product Mix
Winning broader indium phosphide customer set including Tier 1 laser and optical transceiver manufacturers (China and global); top 5 customers represented ~22.6% of revenue and no single customer >10%, indicating customer diversification.
Vertical Integration and Raw Materials Progress
Raw material joint venture revenue was $7.6M in Q4; subsidiary JinMei began refining high-quality indium, strengthening control of a critical material supply for indium phosphide substrates.
Q1 Near-Term Revenue Visibility
Management stated there is approximately $26M of revenue that can likely be recognized in Q1 (either already permitted to ship or not requiring export permits), with potential upside if additional permits are obtained.
Negative Updates
Sequential and Year-over-Year Revenue Decline
Q4 2025 revenue was $23.0M, down from $28.0M in Q3 2025 (QoQ decline of $5.0M, -17.9%) and down from $25.1M in Q4 2024 (YoY decline of $2.1M, -8.4%).
Export Permit Delays Gating Growth
Receipt and timing of China export permits remain the single most significant gating factor for growth and shipments; permit process is opaque and variable, with some denials requiring resubmission — creating unpredictability for quarter-to-quarter revenue recognition.
Continued Quarterly Losses
Company remained unprofitable in Q4: non-GAAP net loss of $2.6M (or $0.06 per share) and GAAP net loss of $3.6M (or $0.08 per share), signaling the company has not yet returned to GAAP profitability despite improvement versus prior year.
Inventory Elevated
Net inventory increased by approximately $4.0M in Q4 to $81.7M, which management highlighted as a focus area to reduce in coming quarters (inventory build could pressure working capital efficiency).
Operating Expense Increase Quarter-over-Quarter
Non-GAAP operating expense rose to $7.8M in Q4 from $6.5M in Q3 2025 (increase of $1.3M, +20%), partially due to Q3 having had favorable adjustments; GAAP OpEx also increased to $8.8M from $7.3M QoQ.
Geographic Revenue Concentration Risk
Asia Pacific accounted for 81.5% of Q4 revenue while North America was only 1.0%, exposing the company to regional and regulatory risks tied to China and APAC markets.
Gross Margin Pressure Sequentially
Non-GAAP gross margin in Q4 was 21.5%, down from 22.6% in Q3 2025 (decline of 1.1 percentage points), though up versus Q4 2024 (18.0%).
Reliance on Capital Raise for Expansion
The recent public offering funded the cash balance increase, indicating some reliance on equity financing to support planned expansion (future growth may require additional substantial CapEx of $100–150M for further greenfield capacity).
Company Guidance
Management guided that for Q1 they have roughly $26.0M of revenue that is highly likely to be recognized today (either already permitted or not requiring export permits) with upside if additional export permits arrive, expect sequential revenue growth driven by indium phosphide (backlog >$60M and China data‑center revenues expected to grow >60% Q1 vs Q4), plan non‑GAAP OpEx of about $9.0M, see non‑GAAP net loss of $0.02–$0.04 per share (GAAP net loss $0.04–$0.06), and estimate ~53.2M shares in Q1; they reiterated focus on gross‑margin improvement, OpEx discipline and inventory reduction. For context, Q4 revenue was $23.0M (InP $8.0M, GaAs $7.0M, Ge $0.231M, consolidated raw‑materials JV $7.6M), Q4 non‑GAAP gross margin 21.5% (GAAP 20.9%), Q4 non‑GAAP net loss $2.6M or $0.06/sh (GAAP net loss $3.6M or $0.08/sh), cash + investments $128.4M (after a ~$93.9M offering), net inventory $81.7M, and capacity has been increased ~25% with a plan to double capacity from Q4 2025 by year‑end (estimated CapEx ≈ $30M for that phase and $100–150M possible for further greenfield expansion in 2027).

AXT Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability and cash generation remain weak: TTM net margin is -25.22% with negative EBIT/EBITDA margins, and operating cash flow is -$15.8M. Offsetting factors include modest TTM revenue growth (5.01%) and manageable leverage (debt-to-equity 0.35), but negative ROE (-12.38%) and cash flow strain keep the score below average.
Income Statement
40
Negative
AXT's income statement reveals a challenging period with declining profitability. The TTM data shows a negative net profit margin of -25.22% and a gross profit margin of 11.97%, indicating pressure on profitability. Revenue growth is positive at 5.01% TTM, but the EBIT and EBITDA margins are negative, reflecting operational inefficiencies. The company needs to address these challenges to improve its financial health.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet shows moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35 TTM, which is manageable. However, the return on equity is negative at -12.38% TTM, indicating that the company is not generating sufficient returns on shareholders' equity. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a solid asset base, but the company needs to improve its profitability to enhance shareholder value.
Cash Flow
45
Neutral
Cash flow analysis indicates a challenging situation with negative operating cash flow of -$15.8 million TTM. Free cash flow growth is positive at 35.55% TTM, but the operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, highlighting cash flow issues. The free cash flow to net income ratio is above 1, suggesting some efficiency in converting net income to free cash flow, but overall cash flow management needs improvement.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue90.39M99.36M75.80M141.12M137.39M95.36M
Gross Profit10.82M23.84M13.32M52.12M47.41M30.27M
EBITDA-13.53M-338.00K-8.78M30.12M25.10M11.63M
Net Income-22.80M-11.62M-17.88M15.81M14.57M3.24M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets334.03M339.31M358.70M370.07M332.44M298.86M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments23.11M22.83M39.89M44.29M42.18M72.84M
Total Debt63.70M49.78M55.73M48.88M16.54M13.23M
Total Liabilities93.58M84.41M89.56M80.33M52.21M43.33M
Stockholders Equity179.15M192.77M203.99M221.61M211.53M192.62M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-18.93M-17.88M-7.07M-37.23M-32.95M-13.99M
Operating Cash Flow-15.80M-12.11M3.40M-8.77M-3.31M5.87M
Investing Cash Flow-4.24M-4.45M-2.60M-25.22M-38.81M-16.42M
Financing Cash Flow6.71M-536.00K8.61M38.03M5.72M52.66M

AXT Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price35.08
Price Trends
50DMA
20.12
Positive
100DMA
14.17
Positive
200DMA
8.31
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.85
Negative
RSI
71.16
Negative
STOCH
85.83
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AXTI, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 35.08 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.23, above the 50-day MA of 20.12, and above the 200-day MA of 8.31, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.85 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 71.16 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.83 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AXTI.

AXT Risk Analysis

AXT disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. AXT reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

AXT Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$334.15M22.8423.36%6.28%-9.48%-14.28%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
59
Neutral
$249.75M35.771.74%-10.74%
57
Neutral
$253.02M-442.80-0.91%-0.41%-134.49%
56
Neutral
$156.62M-5.29-23.56%7.53%-15.00%
55
Neutral
$168.07M-8.10-116.86%-94.26%3.20%
52
Neutral
$1.94B-71.86-9.12%-4.54%-119.39%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AXTI
AXT
35.08
33.76
2557.58%
NVEC
NVE
69.08
2.75
4.15%
ATOM
Atomera
5.31
-0.31
-5.44%
MRAM
Everspin Technologies
11.07
5.38
94.55%
VLN
Valens
1.53
-0.60
-28.17%
XPER
Xperi Inc
5.39
-3.17
-37.03%

AXT Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
AXT Board Designates Leonard LeBlanc Independent Audit Chair
Positive
Jan 29, 2026

On January 26, 2026, AXT’s board of directors determined that director Leonard J. LeBlanc, initially appointed on July 29, 2025 as a non-independent member under a limited Nasdaq exception, now qualifies as an independent director under Nasdaq Listing Rules and meets all applicable independence standards, including those for audit committee service under SEC Rule 10A-3. With this determination, AXT’s audit committee now consists of three independent directors as required by Nasdaq, Mr. LeBlanc has been appointed chair of the audit committee replacing Jesse Chen (who remains a committee member), the board has designated LeBlanc as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules, and he will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000 for his role as audit committee chair.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXTI) stock is a Hold with a $17.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on AXT stock, see the AXTI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresRegulatory Filings and Compliance
AXT Cuts Q4 Outlook Amid Export Permit Constraints
Negative
Jan 9, 2026

On January 8, 2026, AXT updated its revenue expectations for the fourth quarter of 2025, projecting sales of $22.5 million to $23.5 million, a reduction primarily attributed to fewer-than-anticipated export control permits for indium phosphide issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce, which constrained shipments in December despite strong customer demand. Management highlighted that the company remains in the early stages of a multi-year growth cycle driven by AI-related infrastructure and high-speed optical connectivity, is on track to more than double indium phosphide capacity in the second half of 2026, and intends to deploy proceeds from a December capital raise to expand manufacturing capacity for anticipated data center growth; AXT also scheduled its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release and call for February 19, 2026 and confirmed its participation in the 28th Annual Needham Growth Conference in New York on January 14, 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXTI) stock is a Hold with a $18.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on AXT stock, see the AXTI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
AXT completes enlarged public equity offering for expansion
Positive
Dec 30, 2025

On December 29, 2025, AXT, Inc. entered into an underwriting agreement for a public offering of 7,098,492 shares of common stock at $12.25 per share, targeting gross proceeds of about $87 million, with a 30-day option granted to underwriters for an additional 1,064,773 shares that could lift total gross proceeds to roughly $100 million; the deal, led by Northland Securities with Wedbush Securities and Craig-Hallum as co-managers, was expected to close on or about December 30, 2025, and included customary representations, closing conditions and a 60-day lock-up commitment from AXT’s executives and directors. On the same day, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option, securing an additional $13.0 million in anticipated gross proceeds and positioning AXT to direct the net funds toward expanding indium phosphide substrate manufacturing capacity at its Beijing Tongmei subsidiary for global export, supporting research and development, and strengthening working capital and general corporate resources, potentially enhancing its ability to meet growing demand in advanced compound semiconductor markets.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXTI) stock is a Buy with a $20.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on AXT stock, see the AXTI Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 31, 2026