Photronics Shares Plunge After Q2 Earnings Miss Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 20 2026
0mins
Source: stocktwits
Photronics Inc shares fell 29.13% in pre-market trading, hitting a 20-day low, following disappointing Q2 earnings results.
The company reported an adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 for Q2, missing analysts' expectations of $0.53 by $0.11, with revenue declining 0.5% year-over-year to $209.5 million. CEO George Macricostas highlighted short-term delays in design releases and memory supply constraints as factors impacting performance. Despite these challenges, Photronics expects Q3 earnings to range between $0.39 and $0.45 per share, indicating a cautious but strategic approach to navigate current market pressures.
The significant drop in share price reflects investor concerns over the company's ability to meet expectations amid ongoing market volatility and competitive pressures, despite a long-term positive outlook.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy PLAB?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on PLAB
About PLAB
Photronics, Inc. is a manufacturer of photomasks, which are high-precision photographic quartz or glass plates containing microscopic images of electronic circuits. The Company manufactures photomasks, which are used as masters to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and FPD substrates. The photomasks the Company manufactures incorporate circuit designs provided on a confidential basis by its customers. The Company sells its photomasks to semiconductor designers and manufacturers, and manufacturers of FPDs. Photomask technology is also being applied to the fabrication of other higher-performance electronic products such as virtual reality/augmented reality advanced IC packages, photonics, micro-electronic mechanical systems, and certain nanotechnology applications. The Company operates approximately 11 manufacturing facilities, which are located in Taiwan, China, Korea, the United States, and Europe.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Photronics Reports Revenue Decline Amid AI Hype
- Revenue Decline: Photronics reported a 0.5% year-over-year revenue decline and a 6.7% sequential drop in Q2, maintaining profitability with a net income of $31.4 million, indicating a failure to capitalize on the AI market opportunities.
- Stock Collapse: The company's shares plummeted 37.5% this week, now trading at a low P/E ratio of 12, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential despite a 50% rise earlier this year.
- Intensifying Competition: Photronics faces increasing competition from major manufacturers offering in-house photomask solutions, which challenges its market dominance and has led to stagnant revenue growth.
- Investor Confidence Wanes: Although Photronics is viewed as a potential beneficiary of the AI revolution, analysts note it did not make the list of top investment stocks, indicating cautious sentiment regarding its future performance.
See More
Photronics Shares Plunge 37.5% After Disappointing Earnings Report
- Stock Plunge: Photronics (PLAB) shares collapsed 37.5% this week, erasing nearly all of the 50% gain seen earlier this year, reflecting market disappointment following its second-quarter earnings report.
- Disappointing Earnings: The company reported a 6.7% sequential revenue decline and a 0.5% year-over-year drop, indicating that despite the AI-driven semiconductor demand, Photronics has not achieved expected hypergrowth, with net income at $31.4 million against $200 million in revenue.
- Intensifying Competition: While Photronics remains profitable, it faces fierce competition from in-house photomask solutions offered by major manufacturers, which threatens its market position and has led to stagnant revenue growth in recent years.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: With a current price-to-earnings ratio of just 12, the stock appears cheap, yet investor skepticism about its ability to benefit from the AI revolution may hinder the realization of shareholder value.
See More
Photronics Under Investigation for Possible Securities Law Violations
- Declining Performance: Photronics reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $209 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline, with operating margins dropping from 26.4% to 20.1%, indicating significant financial pressure that could undermine investor confidence moving forward.
- Delayed Product Releases: The company revealed that certain design releases have been postponed due to elevated fab utilization rates, which not only extend new product launch timelines but also exacerbate memory supply constraints and cost pressures for OEMs, contributing to market uncertainty.
- Stock Price Plunge: Following the earnings report, Photronics' stock price plummeted by $19.49, or 36.4%, closing at $34.02 per share, resulting in direct financial losses for investors and potentially triggering collective lawsuits against the company.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating on behalf of Photronics investors, urging those who suffered losses to reach out for potential claims, highlighting the importance of legal recourse and investor protection in the wake of such events.
See More
Photronics Stock Plummets 30% Following Earnings Miss and Investigation
- Earnings Miss: Photronics reported Q2 FY2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $0.49 to $0.55, which fell short of expectations, resulting in a 30% stock drop in a single session, significantly undermining investor confidence and company valuation.
- Competitive Position Under Scrutiny: CEO's claims during the Q4 2025 earnings call that Photronics is the 'only US-headquartered company that can produce trusted masks' are now being questioned following disappointing earnings, raising concerns about the validity of these statements and their impact on perceived pricing power and growth trajectory.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating potential misleading statements regarding Photronics' competitive positioning, which could expose the company to legal risks and further exacerbate market uncertainty surrounding its future performance.
- Investor Loss Recovery: Affected investors are encouraged to submit their information to participate in the legal investigation, indicating that the company's potential legal liabilities may impact its future financial performance and shareholder trust.
See More
Photronics Q2 Earnings Miss Guidance, Stock Plummets 30%
- Earnings Decline: Photronics reported Q2 FY2026 earnings that missed its own guidance, resulting in a 30% stock drop in a single session, significantly undermining investor confidence and highlighting the company's vulnerabilities in market competition.
- Misleading Statement Investigation: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Photronics made materially misleading statements regarding its competitive positioning, particularly claims made by the CEO in the Q4 2025 earnings call asserting the company as the 'only US-headquartered producer of trusted masks,' which may have influenced investor decisions.
- Financial Forecast Miss: During the Q1 2026 earnings call, the CFO projected a non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.49 to $0.55 for Q2, but the reported results fell short of this expectation, indicating deficiencies in the company's financial management.
- Investor Rights Protection: Affected investors are encouraged to submit their information to participate in the legal investigation against Photronics, reflecting market concerns over the company's transparency and governance, which could lead to stricter regulatory measures in the future.
See More
US Stocks Close Higher, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 rose by 0.58% and the Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.84%, reaching all-time highs, reflecting market optimism following the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, which may promote economic stability.
- Economic Data Impact: The US April core PCE price index increased by 3.3% year-on-year, meeting expectations, but the unexpected 1.1% decline in April capital goods orders indicates economic recovery fragility, potentially influencing the Fed's monetary policy decisions.
- Rising Unemployment Claims: Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 5,000 to 215,000, exceeding expectations, reflecting weakness in the labor market, which may heighten investor concerns about the economic outlook.
- Earnings Season Insights: As of Thursday, 83% of the 482 S&P 500 companies reported earnings above estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to grow by 12% year-on-year, demonstrating corporate resilience despite a slowdown in the tech sector.
See More
Photronics Reports Revenue Decline Amid AI Hype
- Revenue Decline: Photronics reported a 0.5% year-over-year revenue decline and a 6.7% sequential drop in Q2, maintaining profitability with a net income of $31.4 million, indicating a failure to capitalize on the AI market opportunities.
- Stock Collapse: The company's shares plummeted 37.5% this week, now trading at a low P/E ratio of 12, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential despite a 50% rise earlier this year.
- Intensifying Competition: Photronics faces increasing competition from major manufacturers offering in-house photomask solutions, which challenges its market dominance and has led to stagnant revenue growth.
- Investor Confidence Wanes: Although Photronics is viewed as a potential beneficiary of the AI revolution, analysts note it did not make the list of top investment stocks, indicating cautious sentiment regarding its future performance.
See More
Photronics Shares Plunge 37.5% After Disappointing Earnings Report
- Stock Plunge: Photronics (PLAB) shares collapsed 37.5% this week, erasing nearly all of the 50% gain seen earlier this year, reflecting market disappointment following its second-quarter earnings report.
- Disappointing Earnings: The company reported a 6.7% sequential revenue decline and a 0.5% year-over-year drop, indicating that despite the AI-driven semiconductor demand, Photronics has not achieved expected hypergrowth, with net income at $31.4 million against $200 million in revenue.
- Intensifying Competition: While Photronics remains profitable, it faces fierce competition from in-house photomask solutions offered by major manufacturers, which threatens its market position and has led to stagnant revenue growth in recent years.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: With a current price-to-earnings ratio of just 12, the stock appears cheap, yet investor skepticism about its ability to benefit from the AI revolution may hinder the realization of shareholder value.
See More
Photronics Under Investigation for Possible Securities Law Violations
- Declining Performance: Photronics reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $209 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline, with operating margins dropping from 26.4% to 20.1%, indicating significant financial pressure that could undermine investor confidence moving forward.
- Delayed Product Releases: The company revealed that certain design releases have been postponed due to elevated fab utilization rates, which not only extend new product launch timelines but also exacerbate memory supply constraints and cost pressures for OEMs, contributing to market uncertainty.
- Stock Price Plunge: Following the earnings report, Photronics' stock price plummeted by $19.49, or 36.4%, closing at $34.02 per share, resulting in direct financial losses for investors and potentially triggering collective lawsuits against the company.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating on behalf of Photronics investors, urging those who suffered losses to reach out for potential claims, highlighting the importance of legal recourse and investor protection in the wake of such events.
See More
Photronics Stock Plummets 30% Following Earnings Miss and Investigation
- Earnings Miss: Photronics reported Q2 FY2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $0.49 to $0.55, which fell short of expectations, resulting in a 30% stock drop in a single session, significantly undermining investor confidence and company valuation.
- Competitive Position Under Scrutiny: CEO's claims during the Q4 2025 earnings call that Photronics is the 'only US-headquartered company that can produce trusted masks' are now being questioned following disappointing earnings, raising concerns about the validity of these statements and their impact on perceived pricing power and growth trajectory.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating potential misleading statements regarding Photronics' competitive positioning, which could expose the company to legal risks and further exacerbate market uncertainty surrounding its future performance.
- Investor Loss Recovery: Affected investors are encouraged to submit their information to participate in the legal investigation, indicating that the company's potential legal liabilities may impact its future financial performance and shareholder trust.
See More
Photronics Q2 Earnings Miss Guidance, Stock Plummets 30%
- Earnings Decline: Photronics reported Q2 FY2026 earnings that missed its own guidance, resulting in a 30% stock drop in a single session, significantly undermining investor confidence and highlighting the company's vulnerabilities in market competition.
- Misleading Statement Investigation: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Photronics made materially misleading statements regarding its competitive positioning, particularly claims made by the CEO in the Q4 2025 earnings call asserting the company as the 'only US-headquartered producer of trusted masks,' which may have influenced investor decisions.
- Financial Forecast Miss: During the Q1 2026 earnings call, the CFO projected a non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.49 to $0.55 for Q2, but the reported results fell short of this expectation, indicating deficiencies in the company's financial management.
- Investor Rights Protection: Affected investors are encouraged to submit their information to participate in the legal investigation against Photronics, reflecting market concerns over the company's transparency and governance, which could lead to stricter regulatory measures in the future.
See More
US Stocks Close Higher, Nasdaq Hits All-Time High
- Market Recovery: The S&P 500 rose by 0.58% and the Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.84%, reaching all-time highs, reflecting market optimism following the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, which may promote economic stability.
- Economic Data Impact: The US April core PCE price index increased by 3.3% year-on-year, meeting expectations, but the unexpected 1.1% decline in April capital goods orders indicates economic recovery fragility, potentially influencing the Fed's monetary policy decisions.
- Rising Unemployment Claims: Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 5,000 to 215,000, exceeding expectations, reflecting weakness in the labor market, which may heighten investor concerns about the economic outlook.
- Earnings Season Insights: As of Thursday, 83% of the 482 S&P 500 companies reported earnings above estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to grow by 12% year-on-year, demonstrating corporate resilience despite a slowdown in the tech sector.
See More
