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Needham Upgrades IPG Photonics (IPGP) to Buy as New Orders Come in Faster Than It Can Fill Them

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.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of IPGP as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IPGP and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Most Buzzing AI Semiconductor Stocks to Buy in 2026 and 11 Best Medical Technology Stocks to Buy Right Now.

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The $250 Trillion AI Hype is Real. A few years from now, you’ll probably wish you’d bought this stock.

Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard.

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Dr. Inan Dogan

Dr. Ian Dogan

Co-Founder and Research Director at Insider Monkey

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