AAOITechnology · Communication EquipmentThe 6 Wall Street analysts covering Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $178 — +64.9% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 14 of 100 as at 8 Sept 2026 — in the weakest quartile. The Street sees upside; the factor read is a caution. That gap is the story on this page.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Momentum (82): The shares have been drifting up relative to others.
Volatility (0): The share price moves around a lot.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on AAOI, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +64.9% from it.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 2026 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | $220 → $190 |
| 7 Aug 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | $220 |
| 22 July 2026 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | $260 → $220 |
| 22 July 2026 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 22 June 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 22 June 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | $220 |
| 8 May 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 9 Mar 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 27 Feb 2026 | B. Riley Securities | Upgrade | Neutral | — |
| 27 Feb 2026 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 27 Feb 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 19 Dec 2025 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 11 Dec 2025 | Needham | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 11 Dec 2025 | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 17 Nov 2025 | Northland Capital Markets | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 10 Nov 2025 | B. Riley Securities | Downgrade | Sell | — |
| 8 Aug 2025 | B. Riley Securities | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Raymond James | Maintains | Outperform | — |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.
Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. AAOI appears on the weeks it earns a place.
Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 9 Sept 2026, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. returned +355.0% against +18.5% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
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Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 99% of US stocks
Cheaper than 11% of US stocks
Cheaper than 20% of US stocks
Cheaper than 98% of US stocks
Higher than 91% of US stocks
Higher than 82% of US stocks
Higher than 31% of US stocks
Higher than 23% of US stocks
Higher than 20% of US stocks
Higher than 39% of US stocks
Higher than 35% of US stocks
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. has a market value of $9.5B and an enterprise value of $9.2B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $596.0M. The latest quarter grew 86.4% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: −$57.0M, a −9.6% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $−0.78.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: −$601.3M.
Trailing P/E: −170.9×; forward P/E: 23.8× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. employs 4,691 people — $127K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
Applied Optoelectronics' stock has fallen 46.3% over three months, despite surging AI-driven demand for its 800G and 1.6T products, as supply constraints and a rich valuation offset that demand.
Why it matters — An AAOI watcher would care because the sharp stock decline stems from supply constraints and valuation concerns despite strong demand for key high-speed products.
The article compares the 2026 performance of the three largest U.S. optics stocks—Applied Optoelectronics, Lumentum, and Coherent—amid surging AI datacenter spending that has made optical networking a hot trade. It notes the three stocks have performed very differently, with picking the wrong one meaning missed triple-digit gains.
Why it matters — AAOI watchers would care because the piece evaluates how Applied Optoelectronics' 2026 performance stacks up against its two main optics rivals in a market driven by AI datacenter investment.
The article reports that many AI-related stocks have faced major volatility in 2026, with several high-flying names pulling back sharply after earlier large gains. It identifies three AI-related stocks that are worth a closer look following these pullbacks.
Why it matters — For AAOI watchers, the article highlights that volatility and pullbacks among AI-related stocks may warrant a closer examination of the sector, which includes AAOI.
Zacks Investment Research highlights lesser-discussed stocks that offer meaningful AI exposure beyond GPUs, noting that the AI boom extends into data preparation, networking, and infrastructure. Applied Optoelectronics is referenced as one of these under-the-radar AI-related opportunities.
Why it matters — AAOI watchers may gain insight into how the company is positioned within the broader AI infrastructure and networking landscape beyond NVIDIA-centric GPU narratives.
Applied Optoelectronics and Lumentum shares fell 6% on Friday, while Coherent dropped 5%, as the AI optical connectivity trade cooled. The pullback was driven by the same names that had led August gains lower in unison.
Why it matters — AAOI investors would care because the stock is part of the AI optical connectivity trade, making it directly exposed to cooling momentum in that sector.
The 6 Wall Street analysts covering Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. have a median 12-month price target of $178, with estimates ranging from $109 to $220. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 6 analysts covering Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., 3 rate it a Buy, 3 a Hold and 0 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. 14 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 8 Sept 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 8 Sept 2026, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. ranks 14 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Momentum (82 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 6 analysts implies +64.9% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. 14 out of 100 as at 8 Sept 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for AAOI are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $109 to $220 over the next 12 months.
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. returned +355.0% over the 12 months to 9 Sept 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Applied Optoelectronics Inc. is a communications equipment company that designs, manufactures, and sells fiber-optic networking products for data centers, cable television broadband, telecommunications, and fiber-to-the-home networks.
The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 7 Sept 2026): "AAOI Dips 46% in Three Months: Should You Buy the Stock Now or Wait?". Applied Optoelectronics' stock has fallen 46.3% over three months, despite surging AI-driven demand for its 800G and 1.6T products, as supply constraints and a rich valuation offset that demand.
Applied Optoelectronics Inc. is a communications equipment company that designs, manufactures, and sells fiber-optic networking products for data centers, cable television broadband, telecommunications, and fiber-to-the-home networks. Applied Optoelectronics Inc.’s portfolio spans optical modules, lasers, photodiodes, transceivers, subassemblies, and related turn-key equipment used to move high-speed data across fiber-based networks. The company also provides hybrid fiber coaxial and broadband access products that support network operators and service providers in delivering reliable connectivity. Its products serve cloud and internet data center operators, cable and telecom equipment makers, and broadband infrastructure customers across multiple regions. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, and incorporated in 1997, Applied Optoelectronics Inc. plays a specialized role in the global optical communications market by supplying hardware that underpins modern digital infrastructure.
CEO Dr. Chih-Hsiang Lin Ph.D. · 4,691 employees · United States · https://www.ao-inc.com
