Data as of:
LIVE
COHR
Coherent Corp. · Technology - Compound Semiconductors & Photonics
$317.36
+10.40% this month
VERSUS
COMPARE
LITE
Lumentum Holdings Inc. · Technology - Optical & Photonic Products
$930.91
+12.48% this month
Comparison scoreboard
LITE LEADS 3/5AI Scorei
COHR 81.4
LITE ✓85.3
1Y Returni
COHR +193.72%
LITE ✓+442.80%
Fwd P/Ei
COHR ✓19.07
LITE 25.85
Target Up.i
COHR ✓+56.11%
LITE +33.42%
Op. Margini
COHR 11.83%
LITE ✓27.95%
Metrics last refreshed: 9/20/2026
Quick take
COHR vs LITE Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
COHR (Coherent) and LITE (Lumentum) are both optical components companies benefiting from AI data center optical networking demand — Coherent is larger and more diversified across compound semiconductors, SiC for EVs, and industrial lasers alongside its transceiver business, while Lumentum is more focused on optical networking components, 3D sensing, and telecom photonics. Both benefit from the same AI cluster optical transceiver demand tailwind.
COHR vs LITE is diversified compound semiconductor and photonics leader (Coherent's multi-market photonics portfolio spanning AI networking transceivers, SiC for EVs, and industrial lasers with post-merger scale) versus focused optical networking and 3D sensing specialist (Lumentum's concentrated expertise in optical components for telecom and data center networking with 3D sensing as a consumer technology play) — diversified scale versus focused photonics specialist.
Live analysis · updated 9/20/2026
LITE holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. LITE has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+442.80% vs +193.72%), though COHR has the better forward P/E setup (19.07x vs 25.85x for LITE). LITE leads on both revenue growth (109.30%) and operating margin (27.95%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for COHR (+56.11%) than for LITE (+33.42%).
Normalized 1Y performance
COHR
LITE
Recent returns
COHR
LITE
Analyst price targets & sentiment
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
COHR · 21 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.6/5.0)
18 Buy / 5 Hold / 0 Sell
Price target range
analyst low$230.00
analyst high$461.96
analyst mean$415.36
current price$317.36
+56.1% upside to analyst mean
LITE · 24 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.6/5.0)
22 Buy / 4 Hold / 0 Sell
Price target range
analyst low$600.00
analyst high$1,400.00
analyst mean$1,148.43
current price$930.91
+33.4% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
COHR may suit investors who:
- Want diversified photonics exposure spanning AI networking transceivers, SiC semiconductors for EVs, and industrial lasers — Coherent's multi-market presence smooths revenue across different technology investment cycles
- Value Coherent's vertical integration in compound semiconductor materials as a supply chain advantage for both transceiver and SiC businesses
- Accept elevated post-merger debt and integration complexity as the cost of Coherent's scale and multi-market photonics portfolio
LITE may suit investors who:
- Want a more focused optical networking components play with depth in optical networking technology for both telecom and AI data center applications
- Value Lumentum's VCSEL and 3D sensing technology as a differentiated capability applicable to emerging consumer and automotive sensing markets beyond data center networking
- Prefer Lumentum's lower leverage and simpler business compared to Coherent's more complex multi-business post-merger integration
Performance & AI score
| Metric | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 81.4 | 85.3 |
| AI ranki | #11 | #5 |
| Latest closei | $317.36 | $930.91 |
| 1M returni | +10.40% | +12.48% |
| 6M returni | +15.16% | +20.56% |
| 1Y returni | +193.72% | +442.80% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $29.37K (+193.7%) started 2025-09-18 | $54.28K (+442.8%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $53.53K (+435.3%) started 2021-09-20 | $109.79K (+997.9%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $140.36K (+1303.6%) started 2016-09-19 | $229.57K (+2195.7%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $52.11B | $77.21B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 64.74 | 156.17 |
| Forward P/Ei | 19.07 | 25.85 |
| Price/Salesi | 12.17 | 40.44 |
| EV/Revenuei | 7.75 | 25.51 |
| Analyst targeti | $415.36 | $1,148.43 |
| Target upsidei | +56.11% | +33.42% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 33.70% | 109.30% |
| Earnings growthi | 27548.00% | N/A |
| EPS growthi | +27548.00% | N/A |
| FCF margini | -9.13% | +7.46% |
| Operating margini | 11.83% | 27.95% |
| Profit margini | 11.31% | -230.10% |
| ROIC proxyi | 7.98% | -240.03% |
| Return on equityi | 7.98% | -240.03% |
| Dividend yieldi | N/A | N/A |
| Payout ratioi | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend growth streaki | N/A | N/A |
| Betai | 2.11 | 1.51 |
| Debt/equityi | 31.61 | 35.99 |
| Current ratioi | 2.43 | 1.68 |
| Quick ratioi | 1.17 | 1.32 |
Correlation
Over the past year, COHR and LITE have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.78), based on daily returns.
1Y
0.78
-1.0+1.0
5Y
0.73
-1.0+1.0
10Y
0.68
-1.0+1.0
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
COHR max drawdowni47.98%
LITE max drawdowni42.80%
COHR max wkly dropi28.87%
LITE max wkly dropi27.40%
5Y risk snapshot
COHR max drawdowni62.87%
LITE max drawdowni66.48%
COHR max wkly dropi30.16%
LITE max wkly dropi27.40%
10Y risk snapshot
COHR max drawdowni72.22%
LITE max drawdowni66.89%
COHR max wkly dropi32.69%
LITE max wkly dropi31.75%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +193.72% | +442.80% |
| CAGRi | +193.93% | +443.43% | |
| Volatilityi | 85.79% | 97.83% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.64 | 2.18 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 2.48 | 3.53 | |
| Max drawdowni | 47.98% | 42.80% | |
| Current drawdowni | 25.66% | 11.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 11.61% | 10.25% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 16.26% | 13.73% | |
| Max daily dropi | 14.24% | 14.19% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 28.87% | 27.40% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +435.27% | +997.90% |
| CAGRi | +39.92% | +61.57% | |
| Volatilityi | 65.62% | 63.89% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.78 | 1.00 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.14 | 1.51 | |
| Max drawdowni | 62.87% | 66.48% | |
| Current drawdowni | 25.66% | 11.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 24.53% | 30.29% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 30.88% | 36.79% | |
| Max daily dropi | 29.87% | 22.46% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 30.16% | 27.40% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +1303.63% | +2195.71% |
| CAGRi | +30.25% | +36.82% | |
| Volatilityi | 58.80% | 58.39% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.67 | 0.76 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.98 | 1.10 | |
| Max drawdowni | 72.22% | 66.89% | |
| Current drawdowni | 25.66% | 11.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 27.89% | 24.63% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 33.90% | 30.22% | |
| Max daily dropi | 29.87% | 32.98% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 32.69% | 31.75% |
Business comparison
| Category | COHR | LITE |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Coherent Corp. | Lumentum Holdings Inc. |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Scientific & Technical Instruments | Communication Equipment |
| Core business | Coherent Corp. (formerly II-VI Incorporated, which acquired the original Coherent Inc.) is a diversified compound semiconductor and photonics company — producing optical transceivers for data center and telecom networking, silicon carbide wafers for EV power electronics, industrial lasers, consumer photonics (3D sensing), and precision optics for aerospace and defense. Coherent serves multiple technology end markets requiring advanced photonic and compound semiconductor components. | Lumentum is an optical and photonic products company specializing in optical networking components (lasers, modulators, transceivers, ROADMs for telecom and data center networks) and consumer and industrial products (3D sensing for smartphone facial recognition and industrial applications, solid-state lidar). Lumentum was originally spun out of JDSU (now Viavi Solutions) in 2015. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Coherent's datacom revenue growth (AI-driven transceiver demand), SiC wafer production ramp for EVs, merger integration progress and debt reduction, and the transition to higher-bandwidth transceiver generations (400G, 800G, 1.6T for AI cluster networking). | Investors track Lumentum's cloud and networking segment revenue (data center and telecom optical components), 3D sensing revenue from Apple (a historically significant customer for Face ID components), AI data center transceiver growth, and overall optical component market cycle dynamics. |
COHR strengths
- Scale and breadth in optical transceivers — Coherent's large optical transceiver portfolio serves the full range of data center speeds and form factors, positioning it to capture demand across current and next-generation AI networking buildouts
- Vertical integration in compound semiconductors — Coherent's internal production of compound semiconductor wafers (indium phosphide, gallium arsenide, SiC) reduces component costs and provides supply chain control
- Multi-market diversification — while AI networking is a current growth driver, Coherent's SiC, industrial laser, and defense photonics businesses provide revenue diversification across different technology cycles
LITE strengths
- Optical networking component expertise — Lumentum has deep expertise in photonic integrated circuit design and optical component manufacturing; its ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer) products for long-haul telecom are market-leading
- AI data center transceiver growth — like Coherent, Lumentum benefits from hyperscaler demand for high-bandwidth optical transceivers as AI GPU clusters require massive optical networking bandwidth
- 3D sensing/LiDAR technology capabilities — Lumentum's VCSEL laser technology for 3D sensing (used in Apple Face ID and potential automotive lidar applications) represents a technology capability applicable to emerging markets
Risks to watch — COHR
- Merger integration debt burden — Coherent's acquisition history left the company with significant leverage; debt service consumes cash flow that could otherwise fund R&D or capital return
- High-speed transceiver competitive intensity — the 800G and 1.6T transceiver market is intensely competitive among Coherent, Lumentum, Inphi/Marvell, and Asian suppliers; pricing can compress as volumes scale
- SiC competitive dynamics — dedicated SiC companies (Wolfspeed, onsemi, STMicro) are all expanding capacity; the SiC market could face oversupply if EV ramp timing disappoints against capacity additions
Risks to watch — LITE
- Apple 3D sensing revenue concentration and volatility — Lumentum has historically derived significant revenue from Apple's 3D sensing component purchases for iPhone Face ID; changes in Apple's supply chain strategy create revenue concentration risk
- Telecom optical cycle weakness — long-haul and metro telecom optical spending cycles have faced weakness as carriers digested previous buildouts; recovery timing has been uncertain
- Optical component commoditization — as transceiver speeds scale from 400G to 800G to 1.6T, each generation risks faster commoditization as multiple suppliers and Asian manufacturers compete on the new speed tiers
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