nLIGHT Inc. reported preliminary fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $78 million to $80 million, exceeding its prior guidance range of $72 million to $78 million. Laser Products sales contributed $54 million to $55 million, while Advanced Development revenue added approximately $24 million to $25 million. Management attributed the upside to sustained strength in Aerospace & Defense programs, including directed-energy initiatives and optical sensing contracts, and highlighted growing interest from AI-driven manufacturing customers. The announcement drove the stock to record highs as investors reacted to expanded program visibility going into 2026, particularly in defense-oriented laser systems and high-power photonics solutions.

On January 6, nLIGHT’s President and CEO Scott Keeney exercised 31,748 stock options and immediately sold the shares in a Rule 10b5-1 transaction, generating proceeds of approximately $1.2 million. The sale represented 1.37% of his direct holdings, reducing his stake to 2,285,020 shares valued at roughly $86.1 million. The trade size and percentage align precisely with Keeney’s recent median sell cadence (35,002 shares and 1.37% of holdings), underscoring its nature as a routine liquidity and tax-planning event rather than a reflection of changed outlook. Investors noted that no net increase in equity exposure occurred, as the transaction was purely an option exercise followed by immediate disposition.