10 Best Optical Networking Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

8. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI)

Stock Upside: 1.93%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) is one of the best optical networking stocks to buy according to analysts. On May 12, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) announced it had been selected as the primary vendor to help Mediacom accelerate the upgrade and expansion of its fiber and coaxial network infrastructure. Mediacom is the fifth-largest cable operator in the US, serving over three million homes and businesses across 22 states.

For context, Mediacom announced last year its intention to bring faster upload and download speeds to approximately one million homes by the end of 2026. The company said it intends to leverage a distributed access architecture (DAA) with DOCSIS 4.0 technology to expand its fiber deployment.

Now, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., or AOI, will help upgrade Mediacom’s legacy Gainmaker and Motorola system amplifier infrastructure. It will also supply key products for the project like the Quantum18 MB 1.8GHz Amplifier, the Quantum18 BLE 1.8GHz Line Extender, and the QuantumLink Remote Management and Monitoring Software. Altogether, these products will increase network capacity, sharpen signal quality, and deliver more reliable service, all while lowering Mediacom’s operational costs as it pushes through the multi-year DOCSIS 4.0 rollout.

AOI said Mediacom has already completed deployments in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. It added that the two companies plan to continue the rollout across the rest of Mediacom’s footprint over the next two years to reach the one-million-home target.

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) is an optical networking company. It designs and manufactures fiber-optic networking products for data center, telecom, and cable broadband markets. The company specializes in optical components and transceivers that enable high-speed data transmission across fiber-optic networks.