Soitec revenue jumps 23% as AI‑driven photonics demand accelerates

French semiconductor materials leader Soitec reported consolidated, unaudited revenue of €113 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026‑27, a 23 % increase year‑on‑year and above its roughly 15 % target. The growth was driven primarily by a rapid acceleration in its Photonics‑SOI business, which supplies high‑speed optical transceivers for AI‑intensive data‑center applications; revenue from this segment doubled over the prior year and the company expects more than 30 % growth in the second quarter and a second‑half outlook that could double the FY27 Photonics‑SOI revenue versus FY26. Soitec also highlighted progress at its new 300 mm SOI wafer fab in Singapore, now qualified for large‑scale production, and confirmed FY27 investment spending of about €100 million.

Following the earnings release, Soitec’s shares surged roughly 23 % on European markets, while peers such as STMicroelectronics and BE Semiconductor Industries fell, underscoring divergent investor sentiment amid broader AI‑related semiconductor demand. The company’s strong performance and forward guidance underline the expanding role of photonics technology in the artificial‑intelligence ecosystem.