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Laser Systems and Components Industry Outlook: Prospects Dim
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The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry comprises companies offering high performance fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and diode lasers, high precision 3D sensors, optical and photonic products, and scanning technology solutions. The key end-markets are semiconductor, metrology, advanced communication and medical devices.
Here are the three major themes in the industry:
Trade war tensions between the United States and China are likely to have made an impact on the Laser Systems and Components industry. Tariffs on optical fibers and instruments, lasers and photonics technologies are expected to hurt growth. Moreover, a slowing Chinese economy bodes ill for the industry participants as they have significant exposure to the country’s industrial laser market.
The industry is expected to benefit from emerging applications like additive manufacturing, facial recognition, gesture recognition and Internet of Things (IoT). Advanced lasers, especially those with 3D sensing (3DS) capabilities, are shaping interactions using technology. 3DS technology is much in demand among major smartphone makers who are looking to incorporate the technology in their offerings. The technology allows users to create 3D printable objects, control games with body gestures and measure objects.
As industries are increasingly adopting automation techniques, combining lasers with IoT improves operating efficiency. Notably, IoT-supported manufacturing equipment is far easier to update with firmware. The combination not only reduces costs but also increases flexibility and reliability manifold by enabling material handling capabilities through remote sources. Additionally, strong demand from semiconductor and allied markets, which are seeing a rapid shift toward production of micro and nano devices, is a positive for industry participants.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects
The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #220, which places it in the bottom 14% of 256 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dim near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are pessimistic on this group’s earnings growth potential. In the past year, the industry’s earnings estimate for the current year has moved 2.2% down.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Lags on Shareholder Returns
The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry has lagged the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.
The industry has declined 24.1% over this period against the S&P 500’s rally of 6.3% and the broader sector’s rise of 3.9%.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry’s Current Valuation
On the basis of the trailing 12-month P/S, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing Laser Systems and Components stocks, we see that the industry is currently trading at 4.02X compared with the S&P 500’s 3.25X. It is also trading above the sector’s trailing 12-month P/S of 3.40X.
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 6.69X, as low as 2.46X and at the median of 3.54X, as the chart below shows.
Trailing 12-Month Price-to-Sales (P/S) Ratio
Bottom Line
A slowing China market and negative impact of tariff weigh on the prospects of the Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry.
However, we are presenting three stocks with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that investors may want to hold on to.
CyberOptics Corp. : Minneapolis, MN-based stock has returned 29.3% in the past year. The consensus estimate for the company's current-year EPS has remained steady at 13 cents over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: CYBE
MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS - Free Report) : Redmond, WA-based MicroVision has lost 47.7% in the past year. The consensus estimate for the company’s current-year bottom line has remained at a loss of 28 cents over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: MVIS
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE - Free Report) : Milpitas, CA-based has lost 4.3% in a year’s time. The consensus estimate for the company’s current-year EPS has declined 15% to $4.30 over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: LITE
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Image: Bigstock
Laser Systems and Components Industry Outlook: Prospects Dim
The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry comprises companies offering high performance fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and diode lasers, high precision 3D sensors, optical and photonic products, and scanning technology solutions. The key end-markets are semiconductor, metrology, advanced communication and medical devices.
Here are the three major themes in the industry:
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects
The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #220, which places it in the bottom 14% of 256 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dim near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are pessimistic on this group’s earnings growth potential. In the past year, the industry’s earnings estimate for the current year has moved 2.2% down.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Lags on Shareholder Returns
The Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry has lagged the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.
The industry has declined 24.1% over this period against the S&P 500’s rally of 6.3% and the broader sector’s rise of 3.9%.
One-Year Price Performance
Industry’s Current Valuation
On the basis of the trailing 12-month P/S, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing Laser Systems and Components stocks, we see that the industry is currently trading at 4.02X compared with the S&P 500’s 3.25X. It is also trading above the sector’s trailing 12-month P/S of 3.40X.
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 6.69X, as low as 2.46X and at the median of 3.54X, as the chart below shows.
Trailing 12-Month Price-to-Sales (P/S) Ratio
Bottom Line
A slowing China market and negative impact of tariff weigh on the prospects of the Zacks Laser Systems and Components industry.
None of the stocks in the industry carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
However, we are presenting three stocks with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that investors may want to hold on to.
CyberOptics Corp. : Minneapolis, MN-based stock has returned 29.3% in the past year. The consensus estimate for the company's current-year EPS has remained steady at 13 cents over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: CYBE
MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS - Free Report) : Redmond, WA-based MicroVision has lost 47.7% in the past year. The consensus estimate for the company’s current-year bottom line has remained at a loss of 28 cents over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: MVIS
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE - Free Report) : Milpitas, CA-based has lost 4.3% in a year’s time. The consensus estimate for the company’s current-year EPS has declined 15% to $4.30 over the last 30 days.
Price and Consensus: LITE
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>