One-glance verdict
$9.22 our estimate vs market $55.06
Wall Street consensus: $91.60 (893.0% higher than our fair-value estimate)
497% above our estimate, beyond the bull case
Fundamentals snapshot
AXTI · NMS · Technology · Semiconductor Equipment & Materials
Current price
$55.06
52-week range
$7.80 - $143.16
Market cap
$3.61B
One-glance verdict
Wall Street consensus: $91.60 (893.0% higher than our fair-value estimate)
497% above our estimate, beyond the bull case
Balance sheet
Net cash $396.13M. Interest coverage shows how many times profit covers the interest bill.
What stands out
What this company does
AXT makes special semiconductor materials used in things like super-fast internet, 5G phones, and self-driving cars. Their money mostly comes from selling these high-tech wafers to other companies that build the final products. This matters because AXT's materials are critical for the growth of important technologies that many people rely on every day.
AXT, Inc., originally founded as American Xtal Technology, Inc. in 1986, has evolved into a key player in the semiconductor materials industry. The company officially changed its name to AXT, Inc. in July 2000, reflecting its growing focus on advanced semiconductor substrates. Headquartered in Fremont, California, AXT has built its reputation by developing and manufacturing specialized materials essential for cutting-edge electronic devices. Its journey has been marked by a consistent effort to innovate and supply critical components that power modern technology.
AXT designs, makes, and sells compound and single-element semiconductor substrates. Think of these as the ultra-pure, perfectly structured foundations upon which microchips and other advanced electronic components are built. These substrates are crucial for enabling the high performance required in everything from super-fast internet connections to sophisticated sensors in self-driving cars. AXT's materials are the invisible bedrock for many of the technologies we rely on daily.
This business line focuses on producing indium phosphide substrates. These are vital for applications requiring very high-speed data transfer and light manipulation, such as in data centers, 5G networks, and fiber optic communications. They are also used in consumer devices, advanced sensors for robotics and autonomous vehicles (like lidar), and specialized imaging technologies. This segment is a significant contributor to AXT's revenue, powering the infrastructure for faster and more efficient communication and sensing.
AXT also manufactures gallium arsenide substrates, offered in both semi-insulating and semi-conducting forms. These materials are essential for a wide range of electronic components, including Wi-Fi and IoT devices, power amplifiers, and displays using micro-LED technology. They are also critical for lasers used in 3D sensing, data center communications, and even for specialized applications like night vision goggles and laser machining. This segment serves a broad array of markets, from consumer electronics to industrial applications.
This part of AXT's business produces germanium substrates. These are particularly important for multi-junction solar cells used in satellites, as well as for optical sensors and detectors. Germanium also finds use in terrestrial concentrated solar power systems and as a carrier wafer for LEDs. While perhaps a smaller slice of the overall business compared to other segments, it serves critical niche markets in space technology and renewable energy.
Beyond its core semiconductor substrates, AXT also supplies highly purified gallium, boron trioxide, and specialized components like pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) crucibles and insulating parts. These materials are often used in the manufacturing process of semiconductors and other high-temperature applications. This segment supports the broader semiconductor ecosystem by providing essential raw materials and manufacturing aids.
AXT's strategic focus is on expanding its presence in high-growth markets that demand advanced semiconductor materials. This includes doubling down on supplying substrates for 5G infrastructure, data center connectivity, and the rapidly growing fields of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. Management is investing in research and development to enhance substrate performance and manufacturing capabilities. The goal is to solidify AXT's position as a critical supplier for the next generation of electronic technologies, driving future revenue growth.
Price history
Earnings history
Click any quarter to read the call summary and what the numbers say.
Is it cheap or expensive?
Wall Street consensus is the average analyst price target: $91.60 (893.0% higher than our fair-value estimate).
Our most-likely fair value is $9.22 a share — about 83.2% below today's price of $55.06, so the stock currently looks expensive (overvalued).
Is it drowning in debt?
Net cash $396.1M - more cash than debt. Interest coverage -16.4x.
AXT, Inc.'s profit covers its interest bill about 0.0 times over. which is weaker than most peers shown here and 2 peers sit below 1x, which is the danger zone where profit does not fully cover the interest bill.
Total debt $116.61M Interest coverage -16.40x This is the baseline the peer rows are being compared against.
Total debt $1.80B Interest coverage -1.82x Neither company has much profit cushion over interest right now.
Total debt $3.55B Interest coverage 4.74x This peer still has a real interest-payment cushion, while AXTI does not.
Total debt $5.14M Interest coverage -598.10x Neither company has much profit cushion over interest right now.
Total debt $4.67B Interest coverage 17.63x This peer still has a real interest-payment cushion, while AXTI does not.
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