Sivers still looks unrealistically expensive even though the optical market's TAM has grown far more. Plugging the Goldman Sachs photonics report into models still leaves it overvalued. x.comÂ
Davy
Small-Cap Investor, Archetype-Research, Undercovered Companies & Data-Center Supply Chains
Sivers does not look especially undervalued unless its market grows much faster than projected. Upper-limit projections put the CW multi-wavelength laser array market at about $3bn in 2031, and that must be shared among all laser players. This counters @aleabitoreddit's case that Sivers, a laser supplier to Marvell and Jabil at about $430M, is disconnected from its hyperscaler design wins. x.com x.comÂ
Sivers Semiconductors' valuation is hard to justify even on its most ambitious targets for the next 1-3 years, given the margins it has and will have. Its most interesting angle is private companies such as Lightmatter apparently using its CW laser arrays, though that is not officially confirmed. Lumentum and Coherent, while not exact peers, are preferred. x.comÂ
Sivers Semiconductors' break-even hurdle puts market expectations far beyond what it can realistically deliver in the next 12 months. Revenue would need to multiply several times just to break even, before further R&D or foundry expansion spending. Its recent cash raise means near-term dilution is not expected, but much of the cash will go toward the foundry as quarterly losses continue. Hype could still lift the stock without improving the fundamentals, leaving huge short-term risk. x.com x.comÂ
Optics and photonics should be among AI's biggest winners as faster GPU networks need optical connections that suppliers cannot expand quickly enough. Lumentum says some components are sold out through early 2029; Sivers is investing $30M to target more than 100M lasers a year, with operations expected in Q4 2027. Potential US restrictions on Chinese transceivers could reshape supply in 2027. Applied Optoelectronics and Sivers are the favorites. x.com x.comÂ
Sivers Semiconductors is expensive because its valuation rests on a $1.2 billion opportunity pipeline, an unreliable KPI. At 15% conversion next year, it trades near 22x 2027 sales versus Lumentum's 14x and Coherent's and AAOI's 5x, and about 13x 2029 sales versus 3-9x for incumbents with contracted LTAs. The InP laser shortage is Lumentum's and Coherent's asset; Sivers gains access only in H2 2027 if all goes to plan and needs the shortage into 2028. It is a swing trade, not a conviction hold. … Show more
Sivers Semiconductors' AI optics rally prices in more than its photonics business has shown. About 75% of revenue is still wireless mmWave. Its 50-75mW CW lasers suit 400G and 800G but trail tier-1 rivals, making it a tier-2 spillover supplier like Applied Optoelectronics. Its small, old Glasgow fab has $50-150 million of potential laser revenue, with no sign of major expansion. Its multi-wavelength laser arrays for CPO are pre-revenue as Nvidia and Broadcom build their own. x.comÂ
Sivers Semiconductors is undervalued because its photonics subsidiary's valuation potential is likely grossly mispriced, though that unit deserves a hefty discount until listed. Sivers Photonics failed to list via a SPAC in 2024, even early in the AI boom; the main wireless business is boring; and unlisted subsidiaries trade at deep discounts until holders see a path to monetization. Per @aleabitoreddit, Sivers, a laser maker for hyperscaler photonic supply chains, is valued at only about $200M. … Show more
Sivers Semiconductors looks fairly valued even on generous assumptions, offering perhaps 100% upside over 3-4 years, which is not compelling. Even $200 million of revenue, 30% EBITDA margins and an 18x multiple gives about a $1.1 billion market cap, while a needed $65-100 million raise lifts today's $430 million to about $530 million. Management's deck implies $100 million of 2029 revenue at a 25% margin, about 21x 2029 EBITDA after a raise, not cheap unless revenue hits $600-800 million. x.com … Show more
Sivers Semiconductors' $30M expansion of its Glasgow InP fab, targeting over 100M CW DFB lasers a year by Q4 2027, likely means hard dilution. As @PhotonCap notes, the plan shifts Sivers toward hybrid manufacturing, and its capacity target and customer ramps remain forward-looking rather than committed volumes. x.comÂ
Sivers is less exposed to tighter AI financing because its 700M SEK raise funds a buildout largely reliant on external foundries. It is qualifying with Ayar, Jabil, GlobalFoundries and O-Net for potential tier-one hyperscaler pluggable, CPO and NPO deployments. Higher rates may strain neoclouds needing billions for GPUs, but optical content and aggregate demand should still rise even if hyperscaler AI capex falls, especially as new players start qualification. x.comÂ
Sivers Semiconductors is still a startup, not a volume supplier, until it announces purchase orders with clear amounts and gives year-by-year revenue guidance. Its growing opportunity pipeline rests on management's discretion, not contracts, so it is noise. Management dodged forward guidance, reported no qualifications or production orders while CPO should grow triple digits, and conceded it trails Lumentum everywhere. Its margin target would be remarkable versus Coherent's ~40%. x.comÂ