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Optical Cable Corp. (OCC)
NASDAQ:OCC

Optical Cable (OCC) AI Stock Analysis

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OCC

Optical Cable

(NASDAQ:OCC)

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Neutral 48 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:48Neutral
Price Target:
$5.50
▼(-35.37% Downside)
Action:UpgradedDate:01/28/26
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance (ongoing losses, negative margins, and uneven cash generation) and bearish technicals (below key moving averages with negative MACD). The latest earnings call provides a partial offset with improving revenue/margins and strategic partnership-driven growth initiatives, but valuation remains constrained by lack of profitability.
Positive Factors
Strategic partnership and equity investment
The Lightera collaboration plus a 7.24% equity stake aligns a technology partner and investor with OCC's strategy. This structural tie gives OCC preferential access to product integration, credibility in data-center channels, and commercial support that can durablely accelerate product adoption and sales.
Revenue growth and expanding gross margins
Sustained top-line growth combined with a material gross margin improvement reflects structural demand and improving unit economics. If maintained, higher gross margins and revenue growth support operating leverage, better cash conversion, and long-term pathway to consistent profitability.
Low financial leverage and stable capital structure
Manageable debt levels provide financial flexibility to fund product development, fulfill large contracts, and weather cyclical downturns without urgent refinancing. A stable capital structure supports strategic investments and reduces bankruptcy risk while OCC works to restore profitability.
Negative Factors
Persistent unprofitability
Recurring net losses and negative EBIT/net margins indicate the business has not yet reached sustainable profitability. Over multiple quarters this erodes retained capital, limits reinvestment capacity, and forces reliance on external funding unless operational improvements continue and scale is achieved.
Volatile and weak cash generation
Inconsistent operating cash flow undermines the ability to self-fund growth, pay down obligations, or absorb shocks. Volatile free cash flow increases funding risk, may require dilutive financing or debt, and constrains durable investments in inventory, R&D, and sales capacity.
Rising SG&A and seasonal revenue swings
Higher SG&A costs combined with pronounced seasonality pressures margins and operating predictability. Structural SG&A inflation reduces margin headroom while seasonal demand complicates capacity utilization, making it harder to smooth costs and achieve consistent multi-quarter profitability.

Optical Cable (OCC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Optical Cable Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionOptical Cable Corporation (OCC) is a leading manufacturer and provider of fiber optic cable and connectivity solutions, primarily serving the telecommunications, data center, and industrial markets. Founded in 1983, OCC specializes in high-performance fiber optic cables, copper cables, and related products that support the growing demand for high-speed data transmission and communications infrastructure. The company offers a range of products including cable assemblies, enclosures, and accessories designed to enhance network performance and reliability.
How the Company Makes MoneyOCC generates revenue primarily through the sales of its fiber optic and copper cable products, which are used in various applications such as telecommunications networks, data centers, and industrial environments. The company has established key revenue streams from both direct sales to end-users and through partnerships with distributors and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Additionally, OCC benefits from recurring revenue through the provision of maintenance and support services for its products. Significant partnerships with telecommunication companies, data center operators, and government agencies further bolster its earnings, as these entities require reliable and advanced connectivity solutions to support their operations.

Optical Cable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where the company is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsOptical Cable's U.S. revenue shows a recent recovery, with a notable uptick in Q3 2025, reflecting the company's overall 22.8% net sales growth. This aligns with strong enterprise and specialty market performance. Internationally, revenue has steadily increased, culminating in a significant rise by Q4 2024, likely supported by strategic initiatives like the Lightera collaboration. While SG&A expenses rose, they are offset by improved gross margins and net income, suggesting efficient cost management and potential for sustained growth, particularly in data center and enterprise sectors.
Data provided by:The Fly

Optical Cable Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 18, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 16, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlights several positive aspects such as increased net sales, gross profit growth, and strategic collaboration with Lightera. However, challenges remain, including a net loss for the fiscal year, a slight decline in Q4 gross profit, and increased SG&A expenses. The overall sentiment is balanced with optimism for future growth.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Net Sales Increase
Fiscal year 2025 saw a 9.5% increase in net sales, reaching $73 million compared to $66.7 million in fiscal year 2024.
Gross Profit Growth
Gross profit increased by 24.1%, reaching $22.6 million in fiscal year 2025. Gross profit margin improved to 30.9% from 27.3% in 2024.
Strategic Collaboration with Lightera
OCC entered a strategic collaboration with Lightera to expand product offerings, particularly in the data center and enterprise sectors. Lightera also invested in OCC, acquiring 7.24% of its outstanding shares.
Data Center Market Expansion
OCC is expanding its presence and product offerings for the data center market, targeting multi-tenant and enterprise data centers.
SG&A Efficiency
SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 31.4% in fiscal year 2025 from 32.2% in fiscal year 2024, indicating improved efficiency.
Negative Updates
Net Loss for Fiscal Year
OCC recorded a net loss of $1.5 million or $0.18 per share for fiscal year 2025, though this was an improvement from the $4.2 million loss in 2024.
Q4 Gross Profit Decline
Gross profit for Q4 2025 decreased slightly to $6.3 million compared to $6.5 million for the same period last year, with a gross profit margin decrease to 31.9% from 33.5% in Q4 2024.
SG&A Expenses Increase
SG&A expenses increased to $23 million in fiscal year 2025 from $21.5 million in 2024, primarily due to higher employee and sales personnel-related costs.
Seasonality Impact
OCC continues to experience seasonality impacts in its first and second quarters, affecting sales performance.
Company Guidance
During the Optical Cable Corporation's Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call, guidance highlighted several key financial metrics and strategic initiatives that reflect the company's performance and future outlook. The company reported a 9.5% increase in net sales, reaching $73 million, with gross profit growing by 24.1% to $22.6 million. The gross profit margin improved to 30.9%, up from 27.3% in the previous year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased, contributing to improved operating leverage. The strategic collaboration with Lightera is expected to bolster future growth, particularly in the data center and enterprise sectors, as demand for cloud computing and AI accelerates. Despite recording a net loss of $1.5 million for the year, OCC remains optimistic about capturing new opportunities and expanding its market presence in fiscal year 2026 and beyond.

Optical Cable Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Mixed fundamentals: strong recent revenue growth, but persistent losses and negative EBIT/net margins point to weak profitability and operating efficiency. Balance sheet leverage is low, yet negative ROE and volatile/weak cash generation reduce confidence in earnings quality.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Optical Cable's revenue has shown a positive growth trend in recent years, with a notable increase of 47.2% in the latest year. However, profitability remains a concern, as evidenced by negative net profit margins and EBIT margins. The company has struggled to maintain consistent profitability, with net income frequently in the red. Despite a decent gross profit margin, the negative EBIT and net profit margins highlight operational inefficiencies and cost management issues.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12 in the latest year, indicating manageable leverage. However, the return on equity is negative, reflecting challenges in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio is stable, suggesting a solid capital structure, but the negative ROE points to inefficiencies in utilizing equity capital effectively.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis reveals volatility, with free cash flow growth showing significant fluctuations. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, indicating challenges in converting earnings into cash. While the free cash flow to net income ratio is relatively high, it is primarily due to negative net income, which skews the ratio. The company needs to improve its cash generation capabilities to support operations and growth.
BreakdownOct 2025Oct 2024Oct 2023Oct 2022Oct 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue73.04M66.67M72.17M69.08M59.14M
Gross Profit22.60M18.20M22.29M20.51M16.27M
EBITDA385.24K-2.16M4.31M469.89K-766.62K
Net Income-1.45M-4.21M2.07M-347.00K6.61M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets40.06M40.36M43.88M40.56M37.92M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments237.51K244.25K1.47M216.00K132.00K
Total Debt11.54M12.95M11.00M10.53M8.32M
Total Liabilities18.49M19.52M19.16M18.40M15.71M
Stockholders Equity21.57M20.84M24.72M22.16M22.21M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.12M-1.23M-918.52K-1.89M1.92M
Operating Cash Flow1.41M-857.02K-395.68K-1.59M2.12M
Investing Cash Flow-317.20K-67.14K1.43M-292.46K-192.87K
Financing Cash Flow-1.10M-300.29K219.80K1.96M-1.93M

Optical Cable Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price8.51
Price Trends
50DMA
5.38
Positive
100DMA
6.79
Negative
200DMA
5.84
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.20
Negative
RSI
51.45
Neutral
STOCH
37.64
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For OCC, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 8.51 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.39, above the 50-day MA of 5.38, and above the 200-day MA of 5.84, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.20 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.45 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.64 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for OCC.

Optical Cable Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
55
Neutral
$57.76M-9.41-19.65%-1.53%55.08%
50
Neutral
$66.98M-5.20-27.13%93.47%37.19%
48
Neutral
$55.35M-32.89-6.86%9.55%65.17%
41
Neutral
$33.61M-0.34
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
OCC
Optical Cable
6.24
2.14
52.20%
AIRG
Airgain
4.83
-1.77
-26.82%
CMBM
Cambium Networks
1.19
0.15
14.42%
AMPG
AmpliTech Group
2.66
0.96
56.47%
FKWL
Franklin Wireless
3.82
-2.59
-40.41%
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 28, 2026