Trivariate Research says to focus on whether P/E ratios are rising or falling.
Despite major gains by a small number of mega-cap tech firms last year, the market rewarded investors willing to take a chance on some slightly less well-known stocks in 2025. Among the best performers of the year were photonics company Lumentum Holdings Inc. NASDAQ: LITE, which more than quadrupled in value, and aerospace broadband firm AST SpaceMobile NASDAQ: ASTS, the latter of which climbed by about 244% for the year.
LITE has soared 326.9% in a year and trades near a 52-week high, powered by booming AI demand, record laser shipments, and bullish revenue growth.
AI-driven demand is fueling LITE's laser chips and optical transceivers, with over 60% of revenues tied to AI infrastructure and cloud growth.
Nvidia has been the biggest story in artificial intelligence infrastructure for three years, but in 2025 a number of data center stocks enjoyed steeper rallies. In addition to AI chips, fully operational data centers require memory, storage, fiber-optic cables and central processors.
Lumentum has surged since my buy recommendation on Oct. 11, 2025, as AI/cloud demand drove accelerating revenue and improved investor sentiment. The company's FY26 revenue grew 58.44% YoY, beating estimates, and with guidance surpassing its $600M quarterly revenue milestone two quarters early in the second quarter. Its first quarter FY 2026 EBITDA more than doubled sequentially, reducing its debt-to-EBITDA from 41.73 to 24.48, partially mitigating concerns about high leverage.
Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase of infrastructure expansion, and one of the most important technologies enabling that growth is photonics. As AI models scale, the limiting factor is no longer pure compute, but the movement of data itself.
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) Presents at Barclays 23rd Annual Global Technology Conference Transcript
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) Presents at Raymond James TMT & Consumer Conference Transcript
Lumentum soars 219% in a year, powered by strong AI-driven demand, earnings beats and surging revenue growth.
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE) Presents at UBS Global Technology and AI Conference 2025 Transcript
LITE's surging AI-driven demand for laser chips and optical transceivers fuels a 209.5% YTD stock rally and strong growth outlook.