Optical and photonics products are in tremendous demand for serving global cloud and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) infrastructure. Large AI models require millions of graphical processing units (GPUs) working in tandem. 

As a result, the ecosystem witnesses massive growth in data throughput (as high as 400 Gbps and 800 Gbps). Traditional copper wiring is unable to carry these extremely high-speed data packets properly, as it generates excessive heat slowing down the entire AI compute cluster. 

Photonics technology solves this problem by transmitting data at the speed of light through fiber-optic network. Photonics enables high-speed, low-latency and energy-efficient data transfer without overheating.

Here, we recommend three photonics developers to investors that have jumped year to date. These stocks currently enjoy strong short-term upside potential. Moreover, industry-leading products of these companies and the unstoppable growth of AI-powered data centers make these stocks attractive investment opportunities for the long term. 

These stocks are: Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE Quick QuoteLITE - Free Report) , Coherent Corp. (COHR Quick QuoteCOHR - Free Report) , and MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. (MTSI Quick QuoteMTSI - Free Report) . Each of our picks currently carries either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our three picks year-to-date.

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Lumentum Holdings Inc.

Zacks Rank #1 Lumentum provides components, such as transceivers and lasers for fiber-optic networks, supporting the rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, 5G connectivity, and beyond. LITE’s technology leadership in high-speed optical components has positioned it as an essential supplier to hyperscale customers deploying next-generation network architectures. 

Moreover, LITE has a strong collaboration with NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA Quick QuoteNVDA - Free Report) for developing NVDA’s silicon photonics ecosystem, especially for deploying the latter’s Spectrum-X Photonics networking switches.

Optical circuit switching (OCS) is becoming a larger Systems driver under LITE’s multiyear, multibillion-dollar purchase agreement. OCS shipments doubled from fiscal third-quarter to fiscal fourth-quarter 2026, and management’s fiscal first-quarter 2027 outlook includes the company’s first triple-digit OCS revenue quarter.

Strong Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Lumentum expects revenues to be between $1.225 billion and $1.275 billion. The $1.25 billion midpoint implies more than 130% year-over-year growth and would mark another quarterly revenue record. 

Management expects roughly half of the sequential growth to come from components and the balance from systems. Non-GAAP operating margin is projected at 39.5-40.5%, while non-GAAP earnings are expected between $4.05 and $4.35 per share.

Solid Estimate Revisions

Lumentum has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of more than 100%, each, for the current year (ending June 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.1% in the last seven days.

LITE has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 55.8% and 58.7%, respectively, for the next year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the next year’s earnings has improved 1.8% in the last seven days.

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Impressive Price Upside Potential

The short-term average price target of brokerage firms represents an increase of 16.3% from the last closing price of $978.53. The brokerage target price is currently in the range of $820-$1,400. This indicates a maximum upside of 43.1% and a downside of 16.2%.

Coherent Corp.

Zacks Rank #2 Coherent sits at the center of the AI optics buildout, with strong demand visibility supported by long-term agreements. COHR is positioned at the heart of the AI datacenter build-out, which has driven sustained strength in Datacenter and Communications. 

COHR provides highly scalable datacom transceivers, Co-Packaged Optics solutions, and high-speed VCSELs engineered to boost data center bandwidth. COHR is widening its datacenter opportunity through optical circuit switching (OCS), co-packaged optics (CPO) / near-packaged optics (NPO), multi-rail and thermal solutions. OCS already contributes revenues.

COHR and NVIDIA entered into a strategic partnership focusing on next-generation optical technology and silicon photonics for AI data centers. NVDA will invest $2 billion in COHR for a multiyear agreement up to 2030.

Strong Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Coherent expects revenues of $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion. The $2.3 billion midpoint implies approximately 12.4% sequential growth and about 45.6% growth from first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $1.58 billion. Guidance established a credible path toward a quarterly revenue run rate above $3 billion by fiscal 2027’s end.

The company expects an adjusted gross margin of 39.5%-41.5%. Its 40.5% midpoint would represent a modest 30-basis-point sequential improvement. Projected adjusted EPS of $1.85-$2.05 implies midpoint growth of 12.1% from the fiscal fourth quarter and approximately 68% year over year.

Solid Estimate Revisions

Coherent has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 50% and 67.2%, respectively, for the current year (ending June 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 11.9% in the last 30 days.

COHR has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 35% and 46.1%, respectively, for the next year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the next year’s earnings has improved 0.4% in the last seven days.

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Robust Price Upside Potential

The short-term average price target of brokerage firms represents an increase of 37.4% from the last closing price of $301.88. The brokerage target price is currently in the range of $280-$500. This indicates a maximum upside of 65.6% and a downside of 7.3%.

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc.

Zacks Rank #1 MACOM Technology designs and manufactures photonic semiconductor products including high-speed lasers, photodetectors, and RF-over-fiber systems built for AI data centers, 5G wireless networks, and aerospace/defense applications. AI-powered data centers have been MTSI’s fastest-growing business segment over the past few quarters. 

Data Center remained MTSI’s fastest-growing business in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue of $137.6 million, up about 40% sequentially and 81% year over year. The primary driver for fiscal 2026 is 200G PAM4 content in pluggable optical modules, while bookings are being led by 800G and 1.6T platforms. MTSI’s 200G photodetectors are ramping in volume production, and 400G photodetectors are receiving positive feedback. 

MTSI’s portfolio also spans NRZ, PAM4 and coherent modulation across EML, silicon photonics and VCSEL architectures. Sampling of 200G and 400G-per-lane TIAs and drivers, linear equalizers, coherent-light solutions and work on 75-milliwatt CW lasers extend the opportunity as optical links move to higher data rates and new architectures such as NPO and XPO.

Strong Guidance

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, MACOM Technology expects revenues between $415 million and $425 million. The company anticipates adjusted earnings per share between $1.97 and $2.03.

Solid Estimate Revisions

MACOM Technology has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 35.8% and 48.6%, respectively, for the next year (ending September 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the next year’s earnings has improved 3.9% in the last 30 days.

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Huge Price Upside Potential

The short-term average price target of brokerage firms represents an increase of 44.4% from the last closing price of $274.80. The brokerage target price is currently in the range of $300-$475. This indicates a maximum upside of 72.7% and no downside.