5 Best Optical Networking Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

3. IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP)

Stock Upside: 26.05%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP) is one of the best optical networking stocks to buy according to analysts. On May 6, Needham analyst James Ricchiuti upgraded IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP) from Hold to Buy and set a price target of $110. Ricchiuti made the move a day after IPG shared its Q1 FY2026 earnings report.

The analyst noted that IPG’s revenue came in at $265.5 million, which was 3% above Wall Street consensus and well ahead of management’s own guidance. Also, the year over year growth of 17% far outpaced the 12% Wall Street had anticipated. Ricchiuti also pointed to the book-to-bill ratio being above 1.0 as a particularly telling signal. In other words, the analyst views this metric as evidence that new orders are coming in faster than IPG is fulfilling them.

Ricchiuti acknowledged that IPG is currently spending more on operations as it invests to drive future revenue growth. For that reason, Needham raised its 2026 and 2027 revenue estimates but also slashed its 2026 EPS estimate. The analyst views this tradeoff as acceptable given the direction of the business.

The analyst also highlighted the Q2 FY2026 gross margin guidance as an encouraging signal. He noted that if demand continues on its current trajectory, the operating leverage in the business could deliver positive surprises at the earnings level. Put simply, Ricchiuti anticipates revenue growth to eventually outpace the cost increases and allow margins to recover more sharply than the market currently expects.

IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IPGP) is a photonics and fiber laser company that provides high-performance laser technologies to the optical networking industry. The company designs and manufactures fiber lasers, amplifiers, and laser systems primarily used in industrial manufacturing, materials processing, and medical applications.