Lasertec Shares Hit New High on Fresh AI-Driven Rally

By Yang Jie

Shares of Japanese chip-equipment maker Lasertec Corp. surged to an all-time high on Wednesday, riding another wave of enthusiasm for stocks tied to artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

Lasertec's shares broke past the 50,000-yen mark for the first time, finishing the day more than 13% higher. Year to date, the stock has risen 78% thanks to the Yokohama-based company's position as a key link in the supply chain of ASML, maker of photolithography machines needed for advanced chipmaking.

Wednesday's rally came after an ASML executive said in an interview aired by a Japanese broadcaster that the Dutch company is scaling up capacity to meet AI-driven demand.

A production expansion by ASML would benefit Lasertec as the Japanese company has a virtual monopoly on inspection tools used in extreme ultraviolet lithography.

Other stocks tied to advanced semiconductor and AI infrastructure gained too, with Ibiden adding 6.9% and Ebara Corp. rising 4.7%. The Nikkei finished at a fresh record high.

Despite Lasertec's blistering rise, it has guided for lower revenue and profit in the fiscal year ending June, signaling a pause in its multi‑year growth trajectory.

Some Wall Street analysts, however, are urging investors to look beyond any earnings blip.

A recent report from Goldman Sachs said concerns about the stock's short-term valuation are misplaced. The investment bank expects Lasertec to book a new wave of orders beginning in fiscal year 2027, driven by the rollout of next-generation inspection tools, and by broader capital spending beyond major chip makers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The bank estimates earnings for the fiscal year ending June 2028 could beat consensus views by nearly 30%.

Write to Yang Jie at jie.yang@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 17, 2026 04:14 ET (08:14 GMT)