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Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Photronics and Vertiv
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 7, 2026 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Photronics (PLAB - Free Report) and Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) .
Seeking AI Exposure? Top-Ranked Stocks Worth a Look
We've all become adjusted to a few of the mega-popular stocks involved in the broader AI trade, but there are still several other companies that stand to benefit nicely from all the spending, including Photronics and Vertiv.
PLAB Reports Record Advanced Chip Sales
Photronics, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is a global market leader in photomasks (stencils used to print tiny circuits onto semiconductor wafers) for lithographic imaging in semiconductor and flat panel display production.
PLAB's latest release showed record-high-end (advanced chips) revenue, with noted strength in the United States. Importantly, as AI chips become more complex, PLAB's top line is poised to benefit significantly given its critical role in the broader industry.
EPS revisions for its current and next fiscal year show a bullish trajectory, with a big set of positive revisions for both years hitting the tape following its latest quarterly release near the end of February.
The stock has already delivered a stellar performance in 2026, up more than 25%, and has also shown post-earnings strength following both of its last quarterly releases. The company overall plays a critical role in the chip-making supply chain, with more advanced AI chips keeping its outlook bright.
VRT Business Momentum Remains Hot
Vertiv, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), provides services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling, and IT infrastructure solutions and services.
Vertiv's latest results were again reflective of robust market demand for AI infrastructure, with its book-to-bill ratio reaching 2.9X and its backlog growing 109% year-over-year to a sizable $15.0 billion at quarter-end.
Like PLAB above, revisions for both its current and next fiscal year remain notably bullish, with the company's growth trajectory expected to remain rock solid as well.
The stock has continued its ascent in 2026, up more than 60% and overall reflecting one of the bigger AI 'winners' we've seen so far. Favorable EPS revisions have kept the bullish share momentum intact, with the favorable demand environment the company is witnessing not expected to slow down anytime soon given the broader AI and data center buildout.
Bottom Line
While there has been much skepticism surrounding who will become AI 'winners and losers', both companies above – Vertiv and Photronics – both stand to continue being nice beneficiaries, with recent quarterly results confirming their important roles. Both stocks continue to sport a favorable Zacks Rank as well, further underpinning their current bullish standings.
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Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can tap into those powerful strategies – and the high-potential stocks they uncover – free. No strings attached.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Photronics and Vertiv
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 7, 2026 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Photronics (PLAB - Free Report) and Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) .
Seeking AI Exposure? Top-Ranked Stocks Worth a Look
We've all become adjusted to a few of the mega-popular stocks involved in the broader AI trade, but there are still several other companies that stand to benefit nicely from all the spending, including Photronics and Vertiv.
PLAB Reports Record Advanced Chip Sales
Photronics, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), is a global market leader in photomasks (stencils used to print tiny circuits onto semiconductor wafers) for lithographic imaging in semiconductor and flat panel display production.
PLAB's latest release showed record-high-end (advanced chips) revenue, with noted strength in the United States. Importantly, as AI chips become more complex, PLAB's top line is poised to benefit significantly given its critical role in the broader industry.
EPS revisions for its current and next fiscal year show a bullish trajectory, with a big set of positive revisions for both years hitting the tape following its latest quarterly release near the end of February.
The stock has already delivered a stellar performance in 2026, up more than 25%, and has also shown post-earnings strength following both of its last quarterly releases. The company overall plays a critical role in the chip-making supply chain, with more advanced AI chips keeping its outlook bright.
VRT Business Momentum Remains Hot
Vertiv, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), provides services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling, and IT infrastructure solutions and services.
Vertiv's latest results were again reflective of robust market demand for AI infrastructure, with its book-to-bill ratio reaching 2.9X and its backlog growing 109% year-over-year to a sizable $15.0 billion at quarter-end.
Like PLAB above, revisions for both its current and next fiscal year remain notably bullish, with the company's growth trajectory expected to remain rock solid as well.
The stock has continued its ascent in 2026, up more than 60% and overall reflecting one of the bigger AI 'winners' we've seen so far. Favorable EPS revisions have kept the bullish share momentum intact, with the favorable demand environment the company is witnessing not expected to slow down anytime soon given the broader AI and data center buildout.
Bottom Line
While there has been much skepticism surrounding who will become AI 'winners and losers', both companies above – Vertiv and Photronics – both stand to continue being nice beneficiaries, with recent quarterly results confirming their important roles. Both stocks continue to sport a favorable Zacks Rank as well, further underpinning their current bullish standings.
Free: Instant Access to Zacks' Market-Crushing Strategies
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can tap into those powerful strategies – and the high-potential stocks they uncover – free. No strings attached.
Get all the details here >>
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.