Reddit Posts
29 may , what are the biggest losers Pre-market ?
Photronics (PLAB). A great Picks and Shovels play during the AI and Data Center Boom
$PLAB DD: easy to understand TSMC supplier chip tools trade - expecting 3x by the end of the year
Japanese Value and AI Infra: Dai Nippon Printing ($7912.T, $DNPLY on OTCM, $DNP.F on FWB2)
Interested in PL (Planet Labs), ONDS (Ondas), PLAB (Photronics), and IRBT (iRobot). Some of these are not like the others.
$PLAB: AI Semiconductor Component Play is Deep Value, No-Brainer 3x [DD]
Buying 10 stocks in one industry verse investing in an ETF?
Mentions
Can someone help me understand all this hate towards PLAB ? Company is almost debt free and with compelling P/E. What's the bear case here?
For regards who complain about missing plays. I have an open ban bet for PLAB 40 3 weeks. https://preview.redd.it/55pdjgke3x4h1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f04611803594b440e4877b4a8fe88f7310a8148f
Well, I guess I was wrong about PLAB "not doing much" in the 6-12 month timeframe. Within the last month or so, it climbed from the mid-$30s to the mid-$50s, and then had a precipitous drop down to the $30s again. So I guess i was wrong about that; although, the price is now below where it was when I made that statement, so maybe I wasn't entirely wrong with my non-bullish short-term stance. But having said that, I still like the company as a long-term holding. Although, I haven't listened to the latest earnings call yet. I sold a few shares over the last 6 months, because I felt it was overbought; but I might now buy back those shares, especially if it continues to drop.
I’m just down voting any SPCE or space X posts now. Unrelated but PLAB and CELH calls
BB (not really a dip but a dip from PM high) and PLAB
Any one seeing opportunity with PLAB?
anyone buy the $PLAB dip? Seems like the most obvious way play ever. Almost too good to be true
I legit fucking hate hostility here. Ball busting and trolling is fine. But when I see cynical nastiness here I hate it. I just want fellow regards to make money and not have to work behind Wendy’s anymore. Anyway… calls PLAB calls
Dell so nice after the Thursday PLAB massacre.
Same. Played ZS and PLAB earnings. Just sold MDB when it was down 8% in after hours, Ask me Anything..
CELH, CRSR, CLF bets won. Let’s extend this streak to 4. Was in PLAB already and added more today. https://preview.redd.it/xegus5fpew3h1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90c1f92b62cc792b5241b8a6c9c7f0eeb7463e5c
ALAB- gigachad PLAB - regarded
All over this PLAB dip
Bought $PLAB at 51 last week. Missed earnings by like 5% today and now it's in the fucking 30s. Very fake and gay behavior.
PLAB is great. Until it isn’t.
Some regard posted a DD on PLAB weeks ago, photo mask maker for chips with like no debt and a strong balance sheet. I have been in this one for months. They reported today. Down 28%, this is after it was making new all time highs days ago. I am absolutely looking to buy this dip.
I just got destroyed by PLAB. SMH
Played earnings for the first time in over a year. I stay away from these because these things are usually just rigged shit shows. The 3 companies I chose. ZS -> -30% P -> -15% PLAB -> -30% Yep. I estimated a 10-15% loss max on each report, but here I am… -$20k in 2 days. Will see you guys again in a year.
Wow PLAB is taking a huge hit premarket from earnings being released. -25% as of this comment • Revenue Missed Expectations: Top-line revenue came in at $209.9 million, down slightly year-over-year and falling short of the $216–$217 million consensus estimate. • Sequential Earnings Drop: Non-GAAP EPS was reported at $0.42, missing expectations of $0.53 and representing a steep 31% decline from Q1's $0.61 per share. • Free Cash Flow Wiped Out: While they generated $47.0 million in operating cash flow for the quarter, heavy capital expenditures of $45.8 million ate almost all of it, leaving a razor-thin free cash flow of just $1.2 million. • Balance Sheet Remains a Fortress: Despite the margin squeeze, their cash position is exceptional, ending the quarter with $637.7 million in cash and short-term investments. • Soft Forward Guidance: They projected Q3 revenue to stay relatively flat between $207 million and $215 million, with non-GAAP EPS dropping further to between $0.39 and $0.45.
I see PLAB was not the play
PLAB -30% are you fucking kidding me? A 10-15% drop sure, but both ZS and PLAB wiped me bro. -30% each. What the actual fuck man.
Do I sell my in the money PLAB calls (June 18 exp) or hold on through earnings?? Hmm
Yep, SNOW/SNPS/CRM and KSS/PLAB in the morning
Think im gonna go balls deep in MRVL/SNOW/DELL/PLAB calls.
Any thoughts on PLAB earnings this week?
This is actually solid DD on a legitimate semiconductor play. PLAB's position as a photomask supplier creates interesting dynamics - they benefit from semiconductor complexity increasing but aren't directly exposed to the commodity chip cycle volatility. The "picks and shovels" angle for advanced nodes makes sense. What's your read on their pricing power as EUV masks become more critical?
you're wondering what is the next SNDK / MU ? so there is a demand for chips. ask yourself the question: what do chips need ? answer: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomask](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomask) $PLAB $LWLG
PLAB (Phrontonics, Inc) has like a 23 PE ratio, 2.5b marketcap and is the only U.S. company to make the photomasks necessary to make photronic wafers. They're expanding current facilities to increase supply to meet demand.
You don't even have $PLAB on the list.
this play actually looks decent but damn that premium on 235d calls must be insane right now been watching PLAB for while since my company works with some semiconductor stuff and their mask tech is pretty solid. the inshoring angle makes sense too with all the geopolitical stuff happening just be careful with those calls though, even if thesis is right the timing can kill you on options
>PLAB has said they can do the important layers 3x faster than TSMC or INTCs inhouse teams Is this the long pole in the tent, though? Being able to do it faster and there being value in doing it faster are two different things.
28nm costs 2-3m, 7nm costs 10-15m, 5nm and 3nm are 15-30m and 5nm and 3nm are completely insource. 7nm is moving to merchants. Mask cost numbers from PLAB investor day and Semi Analysis substack. Share of 7nm growing towards merchant over time as TSMC and INTC need faster cycles on them (the share move is widely available on all the photomask company investor presentations), 5nm will likely move to merchants at a similar lag to 7nm (9-12 months from now)
The $5-15m mask set number is assuming PLAB captures all of it, right? I thought PLAB only the "easier layers" for a new TSMC chip design, and then TSCM makes the hard parts in-house. So they probably only capture 1-4 million per design, not $15 million. Where do you get the numbers from?
Yeah I find it likely that he insources his own high end masks like TSMC or INTC but similar to them, he will outsource his lower end masks to PLAB because he literally can’t relatively inexpensively outsource it to anyone else. Again similar to INTC and TSMC, as his end uses go up, he will need new chip designs and faster cycles and will again need PLAB but the higher end stuff will come with a 9-12 month lag. So the way I’d think about it is something like Elon makes high end chips and gives PLAB low end chips, then moves on to other high end chips for other use cases and gives the old use case high end chips to PLAB again. Good argument though thank you!
There’s a few aspects to it - 1) PLAB has two analysts covering it and they’re both more retarded than the other, 2)Majority of the high P/E SOXX stocks are high volume revenue models which is against PLAB since they’re a low volume/high price model (will change as inshoring picks up), and 3)The mask industry is one of the most concentrated oligopolies in the world, near impossible for outsiders to enter and only has 3 public stocks (PLAB and then the other two are Japanese and Chinese) that work in the space so it’s pretty under-covered - the growth itself warrants a higher P/E just on base duration and EPS growth cuz the average 20x p/e company grows eps 5-7% and PLAB will do double or triple that
true. lets talk P/E for a sec. its low. SOXX damn near 50. you think PLAB is undervalued or their future earning hadnt been priced in yet?
yeah obviously soxx calls but I think PLAB is more of a niche aspect of your view that isn’t being looked at deeply enough
https://preview.redd.it/yg3r4z32ad0h1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4691b45690bb6851c85fb186f64faab5e67fef5 Was telling regards about PLAB months ago. Was ignored, 🤷♂️
#TLDR --- Ticker: PLAB Direction: Up 🚀 Prognosis: Buy 235d Calls (Targeting $150+ by next year) Catalyst: US Fab Onshoring and increased chip complexity (more lasers, more stencils) Fundamental Analysis: 20x P/E, $800M cash, zero debt, and officially a "non piece of shit in the hottest trade in the world."
WDC was consolidating at dot com bubble prices before it made its giant run. I got shaken out of WDC for a pathetic 6% gain. PLAB was doing a similar thing earlier this year and I pressed the gas on it, and am up big on it. Keep this in mind for other names consolidating at their dotcom bubble prices
I was stalking WDC in the 90’s last year as it was flirting with its dotcom bubble highs. I got in, and stopped out for like a 6% move. Learned my lesson. PLAB was doing the same thing/is and I have been the dips. Up 30% on it now.
PLAB and U are so underrated for this economy
PLAB is picks and shovels B2B play. They make the microscopic stencils (photomasks) that manufacturers absolutely need to print chips and screens. [They are the first to get this next-gen equipment specifically for AMOLED screens (the ultra-premium displays replacing LCDs in phones, TVs, and VR). AMOLED requires roughly 50% more mask layers than older screens, meaning higher volume and better margins for the stencil maker.](https://photronicsinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/photronics-receives-advanced-mask-writer-expanding-amoled) This secures their spot as the premier independent supplier globally for these highly complex displays, locking in a major technological advantage.
PLAB comes through for me again in the desert of good ER plays. 🚀
PLAB is up like 5% as well. GLW is absolutely insane and still has a bright future. Watched a small documentary on them and it was very impressive.
i agree that PLAB is definitely value territory, i might just stick to AMKR and not bother with the latter until it gets more traction
I owned PLAB share. I think it's a value stock. AMKR is more of a growth stock. If it get back to the $35-$40 level I will buy some. That can happen tomorrow.
PLAB is essentially the printing press of chips, they make the photomasks that are essential for a lot of major chip makers in the world; it’s kinda like a stencil if you think about it in that way. i’ve thought about buying it but i haven’t fully decided yet. they have had a little bit of inside selling recently but no huge red flags besides seemingly normal share sells by the company for profits. i’d look into this one if you want a more stable company that provides framework needed for chips. AMKR is in the advanced packaging business. once the chips are printed, AMKR takes the raw chips and puts them in a ceramic/plastic case and wires them to be able to plug into a device. when compared to PLAB though, they raise a huge red flag with the inside sales. the family that created the company recently sold 10 million shares totaling around $480 million worth. i indulged and bought a few shares of AMKR at like a ~$39 average, i may have pulled the trigger a bit early but i see potential in the business and it’ll be a long term hold so i’m not exactly concerned unless i see another 20% drop
i'm interested to hear about PLAB & AMKR. They're on my watchlist.
funnily enough i was just researching to find out which would be best to buy between AEHR AMKR and PLAB, it seems AMKR is at the top but the insider selling does raise a bit of concern for me
Ya that 15%+ open was crazy lol. Really got me excited because of PLAB's yesterday as well. Still long on the company. As long as chips are being made and the other applications Q services aren't slowing down then this earnings just confirmed they aren't going anywhere and that this was a successful spinoff!
$PLAB earnings call when? It was postponed to Friday, so is it still today? Numbers are out, but wen guidance call?
My 3 individual semi holdings are rippin today NVTS +25% PLAB +15% (Too small to name) +10%
Almost full ported PLAB because the logo looks cool. Wish I had
PLAB +17% is insane! I know the market just opened and I doubt this will be sustainable but that's crazy.
PLAB doin it for me yet again 🚀🚀
PLAB! Maybe Im alive!
I was mistaken in a post the other day, PLAB rescheduled their conference call. First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results Revenue was $225.1 million, up 6.1% year-over-year and up 4.3% sequentially. GAAP Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders was $42.9 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared with $42.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025 and $61.8 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders was $35.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared with $32.4 million, or $0.52 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2025 and $34.6 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2025. IC revenue was $165.3 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year and up 5% sequentially. FPD revenue was $59.8 million, an increase of 3% both year-over-year and sequentially. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of the quarter were $636.9 million, of which $459.1 million was associated with our Joint Ventures, of which we own 50.01%. Cash generated from operating activities was $97.3 million, and cash invested in organic growth through capital expenditures was $47.6 million.
Buy more PLAB after earnings release pre market. Not Playboy. Photronics. Will beat easily.
PLAB postponed earnings to Friday. https://photronicsinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/photronics-reschedules-first-quarter-2026-earnings-conference
Goddamn did PLAB leak earnings miss or some shit. Its drilling to earth’s core
!banbet PLAB 45 1d
Looks like Shrek dildos tomorrow. Buying BMO & PLAB
Not sure if anyone invests in $PLAB but their earnings were rescheduled from Wednesday before open to 2/27/26 https://photronicsinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/photronics-reschedules-first-quarter-2026-earnings-conference
PLAB and Q are about the same for me. ~18% and ~30%. I wish I had bought both sooner and more.
Well they were up lol. Currently $Q and $PLAB are my picks and shovels for tech. As of now my only greens as of posting this are OSIS, ODC, and LMB. Probably should have waited to make that comment since it was the first 20 minutes of open.
I'm not into TA, but please PLAB stay above $36/share for longer than a day, show this market you are worth all the money and confidence.
I have my eyes on PLAB and AMKR
PLAB and Q making some big gains today. Very nice. I don't know why, but I'll take. Anyone have any insights as to what's going on? Haven't been able look into anything since work has been busy.
So now we care about P/E? We punish RDDT because they were able to reach profitability almost instantaneously as a new public company but shut our brains off when piling into every dog shit ticker here ala RKLB, ASTS, PLTR, IREN, RCAT, ONDS, PLAB. Also P/E is misleading for growth companies.
No American companies you say? I bet Europe can just get by on their own! Who are the leaders in chip design? Nvidia, AMD, AVGO, Marvel, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm… Who does the packaging, the integration, supplies equipment? LRCX, KLAC, LITE, AMAT, PLAB, MMAT… I’m sorry, I guess those Europeans will just magically recreate the entire semiconductor and networking supply chain indigenously. That sounds reasonable. I wonder who the Japanese care about doing business with more? Is Europe going to stop China in the Pacific? How much money did the cloud hosting companies spend to build those data centers? Oh, just measly tens of billions of dollars on a single site. I’m sure the Europeans will have plenty of money and expertise to recreate the most sophisticated industry in human history without the help of the people who invented the technology. That sounds reasonable. Yeah, they’ll just “divest” because they obviously have a parallel supply chain that can recreate 50 years of work. This is like people saying that Europe should stop buying the F-35 and develop an indigenous alternative. lol. Good luck. Don’t confuse us throwing some sub contracts your way with having the same capability. If we’re going to play the isolationist game I think Europe will find that they have more pressing matters to attend to like idk, Muslim majorities overtaking the natural population of their largest economies in the next 10-20 years (looking at you Germany, Britain and France). Because those are the kinds of timelines we’re talking about. Turkey is more likely to prosper than any given country in Europe.
I got RKLB, OII, PLAB, and PLPC as the stocks that fit these criteria here. I only own RKLB, but OII was on my watch list as well. PLAB and PLPC look super interesting as well.
Calls on PLAB, COHU, AEHR
it's crazy seeing the performance of PLAB with the other 2 you mentioned in that old comment
PLAB is sick. Owned them years ago, but no position in them. Glad to see the market finally giving them some respect. Still wild to think how long I've been posting here lol This is from 3 years ago :X [https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/14yg22j/comment/jruffch/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/14yg22j/comment/jruffch/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Not watching anything in particular since I've recently opened new positions. I'm completely going against my previous reply, but my newest positions are $KRMD and $ELMD. Others I have that are more inline with that market cap range are $LMB, $OSIS, $PLAB, $PL, and $LNTH. Funny enough there is the Needham Growth Conference going on today as well as the CJS Securities Conference and between the 2, $LMB, $PL, and $OSIS should hopefully have good news/presentations.
Looks like Michelle Almeida has been appointed to the board of directors for PLAB. She is currently the VP of Corporate Finance for Compass Datacenters. Seems super exciting given the continued build out of the sector and PLABs more cash then debt it seems like this could be good long term. PLAB is currently paying for, out of pocket, for their new facilities in Texas and Korea where they are planning on producing photomasks for ever smaller chips. Most of their revenue comes from international markets but at the same time is an American company. I'm betting an increase in domestic revenue after Texas is finished. Great reach all around.
$Q and $PLAB looking doing very well today compared to yesterday in portfolio. hopefully the supply side of semis has a strong year!
NFLX , VEEV , SONY, PLAB looking pretty good to me. To throw some different names out there.
BWXT, DRS, LMB, LNTH, OSIS, PL, PLAB, PSN, Q, RMBS, and gonna buy a few more XLU leaps. Trying to focus on mid/small caps for the IIJA, Naval Upgrades, Onshoring, and Space Industry for the next few years. Fingers crossed.
I wasn't planning on selling too much of PL until profitability, but cut my position in half, recycled some of my profits in my ETFs, and opened a position in PLAB. The huge drop from earlier this month seems overblown and their moat is huge worldwide with zero debt. They are funding their expansion in Texas to keep up with demand on photomasks with cash and will still have a quarter billion on hand.
If you liked your PLAB and MU calls at earnings, consider AEHR 😘
I've had a small position in PLAB for a few years. It's been a pretty solid, fairly stable company. They gave a strong forecast with their earnings last week, but the 50% jump seems a bit much. I wouldn't be surprised if it pulls back a bit; and I don't envision it doing much in your 6-12 month time frame; but I like it as a longer term holding.
I’ve been eyeing PL and ONDS too.. those actually have revenue and real business traction, which feels more solid than the pure momentum plays. IRBT’s wild price action is hard to trust for a 6-12 mo hold, and PLAB looks like a bit of a mystery to me other than the recent run. If I had to pick one to ride, I’d lean toward the one with actual sales you understand, but I’d make sure to DD on catalysts/valuation first