Nlight Raises Price Target to $100 After Q1 EPS Beat and 55% Revenue Surge
Nlight posted Q1 earnings of $0.20 per share, beating estimates by $0.12 and reversing a $0.04 loss year-ago, while revenue rose 55.2% to $80.2 million. Strong aerospace and defense sales drove a 68.6% jump in segment revenue to $55.1 million, prompting a $100 price target and $75M–$81M Q2 guidance.
1. Q1 Financial Results
Nlight delivered Q1 2026 earnings of $0.20 per share, beating consensus estimates by $0.12 and reversing a $0.04 loss from the year-ago period. Quarterly revenue climbed 55.2% year-over-year to $80.2 million, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of beats on both earnings and revenue.
2. Defense and Aerospace Growth
Sales to the aerospace and defense markets surged, lifting segment revenue 68.6% to $55.1 million and driving record performance in high-power laser demand. This robust growth highlights the company’s leading position in critical industrial and defense applications.
3. Guidance and Analyst Outlook
Management forecast Q2 revenues between $75 million and $81 million, above current market expectations. A leading analyst firm maintained a Strong Buy rating and increased its price target from $75 to $100, reflecting confidence in sustained momentum.