Coherent Expands Silicon Carbide Platform with 300mm Capability to Support Growing Demand of AI and Datacenters

Rhea-AI Summary

Coherent (NYSE: COHR) announced a next-generation 300mm silicon carbide (SiC) platform on Dec. 3, 2025 to address rising thermal-efficiency demands in AI datacenter infrastructure.

The company said it adapted its proven 200mm expertise to develop 300mm conductive SiC substrates that offer low resistivity, low defect density, high homogeneity, and improved thermal management. Coherent plans to ramp the platform in high volumes and also advance the technology for AR/VR devices and power electronics, enabling more devices per wafer and lower cost per chip.

News Market Reaction

+3.68%

74 alerts

+3.68% News Effect

+4.8% Peak in 1 hr 14 min

+$1.04B Valuation Impact

$29.29B Market Cap

0.5x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, COHR gained 3.68%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.8% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 74 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $1.04B to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $29.29B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Q1 FY2026 revenue: $1.58B GAAP diluted EPS: $1.19 Non-GAAP EPS: $1.16 +5 more

8 metrics

Q1 FY2026 revenue $1.58B Reported on Nov 05, 2025

GAAP diluted EPS $1.19 Q1 FY2026 results

Non-GAAP EPS $1.16 Q1 FY2026 results, +$0.49 Y/Y

Debt repaid $400M Debt paydown in Q1 FY2026

Q2 revenue guidance $1.56B–$1.70B Q2 FY2026 outlook

Share price $198.5 Before AI SiC news on Dec 03, 2025

Market cap $31,029,980,492 Pre-news valuation

Short interest 5.16% Reported short_percent in risk data

Market Reality Check

Price: $196.94 Vol: Volume 5,457,456 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$196.94 Last Close

Volume Volume 5,457,456 vs 20-day average 4,752,105 (relative volume 1.15). normal

Technical Price 198.5 is trading above 200-day MA at 97.41 and near 52-week high 200.19.

Peers on Argus

Key peers like FTV, TRMB, TDY, and KEYS showed modest gains (up to 1.71%), while...

Key peers like FTV, TRMB, TDY, and KEYS showed modest gains (up to 1.71%), while GRMN was slightly negative, suggesting COHR’s AI/SiC news had a more stock-specific backdrop than a broad sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 03 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 03	AI materials update	Positive	+3.7%	Announced 300mm SiC platform for AI datacenter thermal efficiency and scalability.
Nov 14	Product launch	Positive	-0.2%	Introduced Axon FP femtosecond laser for multiphoton microscopy with fiber delivery.
Nov 10	Product launch	Positive	-5.2%	Unveiled EDGE CUT20 OEM metal-cutting solution targeting high-performance sheet-metal cutting.
Nov 05	Earnings report	Positive	+4.6%	Q1 FY2026 results with revenue growth, margin expansion, higher EPS, and solid guidance.
Oct 31	Asset divestiture	Positive	-0.6%	Agreement to sell materials processing tools division to focus on core growth markets.

Pattern Detected

Earnings and AI-focused milestones tended to see positive alignment with price, while product and portfolio news often showed mild negative or divergent reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Coherent reported strong Q1 FY2026 results on Nov 05 with revenue of $1.58B and higher EPS, which aligned with a positive price move. Portfolio reshaping via the sale of the materials processing tools division on Oct 31 drew a slightly negative reaction. Multiple product launches in lasers and cutting solutions in November showed mixed to negative trading responses. Today’s Dec 03 AI-focused 300mm SiC platform expansion fits a continuing theme of targeting datacenter, AR/VR, and power markets with higher-performance materials.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement detailed Coherent’s next-generation 300mm silicon carbide platform aimed at AI dat...

Analysis

This announcement detailed Coherent’s next-generation 300mm silicon carbide platform aimed at AI datacenter thermal management, AR/VR optics, and power electronics. It follows earlier AI-focused initiatives in advanced materials and optical interconnects, reinforcing a strategy centered on high-performance infrastructure. Investors may watch how this platform ramps to volume, how it complements prior diamond-SiC efforts, and how it contributes alongside solid recent earnings and portfolio streamlining.

Key Terms

silicon carbide, sic, wide-bandgap semiconductor, epitaxy

4 terms

silicon carbide technical

"AI is transforming the thermal-management landscape in datacenters, and silicon carbide is emerging..."

Silicon carbide is a hard, durable material made from silicon and carbon, often used in industrial applications like cutting tools and electronics. Its ability to withstand high temperatures and conduct electricity efficiently makes it valuable in manufacturing advanced electronic devices. For investors, companies working with silicon carbide are seen as key players in the growing market for high-performance electronics and energy-efficient technologies.

sic technical

"300mm silicon carbide (SiC) platform to address increasing thermal efficiency demands..."

Sic is a short notation placed immediately after a quoted word or passage to show the text is reproduced exactly as it appeared in the original source, even if it contains a typo, odd phrasing, or factual error. For investors, it signals that any mistake or unusual wording came from the original speaker or document, not from the publisher—like an editor saying “this is how it was said,” which helps with accuracy, responsibility, and legal clarity.

wide-bandgap semiconductor technical

"The 300mm platform reinforces Coherent’s leadership in wide-bandgap semiconductor materials..."

A wide-bandgap semiconductor is a special type of material used in electronic devices that can handle higher voltages, temperatures, and power levels than regular semiconductors. This makes them important for advanced technology like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, where increased efficiency and durability are needed.

epitaxy technical

"https://www.coherent.com/materials/wide-bandgap-electronics/sic-substrates-epitaxy"

Epitaxy is a manufacturing technique where a new, highly ordered crystalline layer is grown directly on top of an existing crystal so the atoms align with the underlying structure. It matters to investors because the quality and consistency of these layers determine the performance, yield and cost of semiconductors, LEDs and sensors; think of it as laying perfectly matched bricks so a device works faster, lasts longer and is cheaper to produce.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SAXONBURG, Pa., Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a global leader in photonics, today announced a major milestone in its next-generation 300mm silicon carbide (SiC) platform to address increasing thermal efficiency demands in AI datacenter infrastructure.

Coherent, a pioneer in large-diameter SiC substrates, has leveraged its proven 200mm platform expertise to develop a next-generation 300mm solution, engineered to manage rising thermal loads, that meets the accelerating performance and scalability needs of modern datacenters. As these systems demand higher power density, faster switching, and superior thermal management, the transition to larger diameter SiC wafers unlock major gains in energy efficiency and thermal performance.

While datacenter thermal management applications are the primary focus of the platform, Coherent is also advancing its SiC technology for AR/VR devices and power electronics through continued materials innovation and expanded manufacturing capacity.

“AI is transforming the thermal-management landscape in datacenters, and silicon carbide is emerging as one of the foundational materials enabling this scalability,” said Gary Ruland, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Coherent. “Our 300mm platform, which we plan to ramp in high volumes, delivers new levels of thermal efficiency that translate directly into faster, more power-efficient AI datacenters.”

The platform’s conductive SiC substrates provide low resistivity, low defect density, and high homogeneity, enabling low-dissipation, high-frequency, and good thermal stability. In AI and data infrastructure, their superior properties boost energy efficiency and thermal performance in next-generation datacenter systems. The same technology enables thinner and more efficient waveguides for AR smart glasses and VR headsets, improving reliability in compact immersive display modules. In power electronics, the transition to 300mm allows more devices per wafer and reduces cost per chip, supporting applications such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and industrial automation.

The 300mm platform reinforces Coherent’s leadership in wide-bandgap semiconductor materials, enabling innovation across datacenters, optics and power applications.

For more info, please visit: https://www.coherent.com/materials/wide-bandgap-electronics/sic-substrates-epitaxy

About Coherent 

Coherent is the global photonics leader. We harness photons to drive innovation. Industry leaders in the datacenter, communications, and industrial markets rely on Coherent’s world-leading technology to fuel their own innovation and growth.

Founded in 1971 and operating in more than 20 countries, Coherent brings the industry’s broadest, deepest technology stack; unmatched supply chain resilience; and global scale to help its customers solve their toughest technology challenges. Visit us at coherent.com.

Media Contact: 

innovations@coherent.com 

FAQ

What did Coherent (COHR) announce on December 3, 2025 about silicon carbide?

Coherent announced a next-generation 300mm SiC platform designed to improve thermal efficiency for AI datacenters.

How will Coherent's 300mm SiC platform affect AI datacenters and COHR shareholders?

The platform is intended to deliver higher thermal efficiency and power efficiency in AI datacenters; the company plans to ramp in high volumes.

Does the Coherent (COHR) announcement mention other applications for the 300mm SiC platform?

Yes — Coherent cited AR/VR devices and power electronics including electric vehicles and renewable systems.

What material properties did Coherent highlight for its 300mm SiC substrates in the Dec. 3, 2025 release?

Coherent highlighted low resistivity, low defect density, high homogeneity, and improved thermal stability.

Will Coherent (COHR) increase manufacturing capacity for the 300mm SiC platform?

The announcement says Coherent is expanding manufacturing capacity and plans to ramp the 300mm platform in high volumes.

Where can investors find more information about Coherent's SiC substrates and 300mm platform?

The company provided product information at its materials wide-bandgap electronics web page linked in the announcement.