Pacific Ridge Capital Fully Exits AXT Stake
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Stake Sale Overview: Pacific Ridge Capital Partners, LLC sold its entire stake in AXT, totaling 1,793,797 shares in Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $17.1 million, reflecting a cautious outlook on AXT's future growth.
- Market Performance Analysis: Despite AXT's stock price soaring 853.6% over the past year, Pacific Ridge's exit indicates concerns over market volatility, particularly following a $0.5 million revenue drop in Q3 due to China's export restrictions.
- Future Growth Expectations: AXT anticipates revenue of $94 million in 2025, increasing to $124 million in 2026, showcasing strong potential driven by rising demand for specialized materials in data centers, despite facing potential market headwinds.
- Portfolio Adjustment: Pacific Ridge also reduced positions in several other small-cap companies, including Natural Gas Services and Heritage Insurance, indicating its ongoing strategy to seek undervalued investment opportunities.
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Analyst Views on AXTI
Wall Street analysts forecast AXTI stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 56.620
Low
18.00
Averages
21.33
High
26.00
Current: 56.620
Low
18.00
Averages
21.33
High
26.00
About AXTI
AXT, Inc. is a material science company that develops and manufactures high-performance compound and single element semiconductor wafer substrates comprising indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and germanium (Ge). Its wafer substrates are used when a typical silicon wafer substrate cannot meet the performance requirements of a semiconductor or optoelectronic device. It has two product lines: specialty material substrates and raw materials integral to these substrates. Its InP is a semiconductor wafer substrate used in broadband and fiber optic applications, 5G infrastructure and data center connectivity. Its semi-conducting GaAs substrates are used to create opto-electronic products, including high brightness light emitting diodes that are often used to backlight wireless handsets and LCD televisions and for automotive, signage, and lighting applications. Its Ge substrates are used in applications, such as solar cells for space and terrestrial photovoltaic applications.
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.
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- Stock Surge: AXT (AXTI) shares surged over 17% on Monday, reflecting market optimism regarding its three-year supply agreement with Coherent (COHR), indicating strong investor confidence in the company's growth potential.
- Key Supply Agreement: AXT's subsidiary, AXT-Tongmei, will develop and supply 6-inch indium phosphide water substrates to Coherent, which has made a prepayment of approximately $22.29 million, securing future material procurement and strengthening their partnership.
- Capacity Expansion Plans: AXT plans to expand production capacity at its Beijing facility between 2026 and 2028 to meet Coherent's demands, a move that not only enhances the company's production capabilities but also prepares for future market demand growth.
- Contract Flexibility: The agreement allows Coherent's prepayment to be refundable if not fully utilized, but AXT can terminate the contract if minimum order requirements are not met, providing flexibility for both parties and ensuring sustainable collaboration.
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- Agreement Details: AXT-Tongmei has signed a three-year agreement with Coherent to develop and supply 6-inch indium phosphide water substrates, which is expected to drive AXT's production capacity expansion at its Beijing facility between 2026 and 2028, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Prepayment Arrangement: Coherent will make a prepayment of approximately $22.29 million for future water substrate purchases, providing AXT with liquidity while ensuring Coherent's procurement commitment during the agreement period.
- Termination Clauses: The agreement stipulates that if Coherent fails to meet minimum order requirements, the prepayment becomes non-refundable, allowing AXT to terminate the agreement; conversely, if AXT fails to meet capacity commitments for over six months, Coherent can terminate the agreement and receive a refund for any unused prepayment.
- Board Changes: AXT has also appointed Tracy Liu to its board of directors, further strengthening its governance structure and demonstrating its focus on strategic development and risk management.
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- Board Expansion: AXT announced the appointment of Tracy Liu to its board, effective June 17, increasing the board size from four to five members, thereby enhancing the company's governance structure.
- Rich Professional Background: Liu brings over 30 years of business advisory, tax strategy, and accounting experience, including a decade at Big Four firms, which adds significant financial and strategic planning expertise to the board.
- Strategic Timing: AXT CEO Morris Young noted that Liu's addition comes at a crucial time as the company expands capacity to meet the surging demand for indium phosphide wafers driven by AI, highlighting the company's focus on future growth.
- Positive Stock Reaction: Following the announcement, AXT's stock rose over 9% and saw slight gains in after-hours trading, reflecting market confidence in the company's strategic direction.
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- Significant Contract Size: AXT's long-term agreement with Nanjing Casela is projected to contribute nearly 20% of the company's modeled InP substrate revenues for 2027, highlighting the deal's importance for future income.
- Risk Management Improvement: This agreement not only mitigates export license risks but also reduces the likelihood of customer defaults and payment issues, enhancing AXT's stability and predictability in the Chinese market.
- Clear Financial Commitment: Casela commits to purchasing approximately $25.4 million worth of Indium Phosphide wafers monthly, with 50% prepaid within 15 business days and the balance due by the end of 2026, ensuring stable cash flow for AXT.
- Positive Stock Reaction: AXT's shares rose 7.3% in premarket trading on Monday, reflecting market confidence in the agreement and its potential to drive future growth for the company.
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