Photronics installs a new multi-beam tool in Boise, enhancing U.S. photomask production capabilities for advanced IC applications.
Quiver AI Summary
Photronics, Inc. has announced the installation of a new multi-beam tool at its Boise, Idaho facility, marking the first use of this technology in production for the merchant market in the U.S. This advancement enhances Photronics’ position in providing U.S. Government Trusted and commercial advanced photomask applications. The new multi-beam writer offers significant speed and performance benefits for photomask production, enabling the creation of complex IC mask shapes and supporting the latest EUV and nanoimprint masks. CEO George Macricostas emphasized the tool's potential to accelerate customers' time to market and improve IC performance, while CTO Chris Progler highlighted its capability to produce intricate designs and enhance Photronics' U.S.-based technology offerings. The company is currently collaborating with multiple customers to pilot the new capabilities.
Potential Positives
- Photronics has installed the first multi-beam writer in production for the U.S. merchant market, underscoring its leadership in advanced photomask technology.
- The new multi-beam tool improves writing speed and performance, enhancing the company’s ability to support U.S. Government Trusted and commercial photomask applications.
- By enabling the production of complex IC mask shapes, the installation creates new opportunities for customers to deliver higher performing integrated circuit products more rapidly.
- The multi-beam system supports the production of advanced EUV and nanoimprint masks, directly addressing the most sophisticated photomask needs in the market.
Potential Negatives
- Potential high costs associated with the installation and operation of the new multi-beam tool, which could impact profit margins if not managed effectively.
- Dependence on collaborations with multiple customers for pilot and qualification, which may indicate uncertainty in immediate demand for the new technology.
- Possible competitive pressure as other companies may implement similar technologies, diminishing Photronics' unique market advantage.
FAQ
What is the significance of Photronics' new multi-beam tool installation?
The installation marks the first multi-beam writer in production for the U.S. merchant market, enhancing Photronics' technological leadership.
How does the multi-beam tool improve photomask production?
The tool delivers unprecedented speed and performance, allowing faster delivery of U.S. built merchant photomask products.
What types of designs can the multi-beam platform handle?
The multi-beam platform can write complex IC mask shapes, including critical curvilinear designs for advanced applications.
How does this installation support U.S. government projects?
It extends Photronics' leadership in supporting U.S. Government Trusted photomask applications, enhancing capabilities for national and commercial use.
What opportunities does the multi-beam system create for customers?
It enables faster delivery of higher performing IC products, improving customers' time to market and product performance.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$PLAB Insider Trading Activity
$PLAB insiders have traded $PLAB stock on the open market 15 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 14 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $PLAB stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- KANG JYH LEE has made 0 purchases and 5 sales selling 63,000 shares for an estimated $1,247,932.
- WALTER M FIEDEROWICZ has made 0 purchases and 5 sales selling 34,548 shares for an estimated $668,157.
- CONSTANTINE S MACRICOSTAS sold 29,500 shares for an estimated $595,900
- CHRISTOPHER J PROGLER (EVP, Chief Technology Officer) has made 0 purchases and 2 sales selling 20,000 shares for an estimated $426,570.
- MITCHELL G TYSON sold 15,000 shares for an estimated $299,550
- DAVID A. GARCIA purchased 2,650 shares for an estimated $50,350
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$PLAB Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 129 institutional investors add shares of $PLAB stock to their portfolio, and 133 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- PACER ADVISORS, INC. removed 1,385,370 shares (-69.5%) from their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $28,760,281
- BLACKROCK, INC. removed 638,402 shares (-6.2%) from their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $13,253,225
- RUBRIC CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP added 547,831 shares (+41.7%) to their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $11,372,971
- GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC removed 393,928 shares (-47.4%) from their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $8,177,945
- THOMPSON SIEGEL & WALMSLEY LLC added 328,167 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $6,179,384
- MEEDER ASSET MANAGEMENT INC added 252,181 shares (+265.8%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $4,748,568
- MILL ROAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC added 223,400 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $4,637,784
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
$PLAB Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $PLAB in the last several months. We have seen 2 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- Craig-Hallum issued a "Buy" rating on 06/11/2025
- DA Davidson issued a "Buy" rating on 05/29/2025
To track analyst ratings and price targets for $PLAB, check out Quiver Quantitative's $PLAB forecast page.
$PLAB Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $PLAB recently. We have seen 2 analysts offer price targets for $PLAB in the last 6 months, with a median target of $31.0.
Here are some recent targets:
- Christian Schwab from Craig-Hallum set a target price of $32.0 on 06/11/2025
- Thomas Diffely from DA Davidson set a target price of $30.0 on 05/29/2025
Full Release
BROOKFIELD, Conn., Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Photronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAB), a worldwide leader in photomask technologies and solutions, announced the installation of a new multi-beam tool in its facility in Boise, Idaho expanding Photronics technological leadership.
“This installation marks the first multi-beam writer in production for the merchant market in the U.S. extending Photronics leadership in support of U.S. Government Trusted and commercial advanced photomask applications in the U.S. and globally,” said CEO George Macricostas. “The multibeam tool leverages a massively parallel writing engine to deliver unprecedented speed and performance for U.S. built merchant photomask products. We look forward to collaborating with our customers to deploy this capability to improve their time to market and end-product IC performance. Photronics continues to build on our U.S. based flagship IC technology center to enhance capabilities of the only U.S. based high end mask merchant facility.”
Added CTO Chris Progler, “In addition to writing speed, the multi-beam platform enables highly complex IC mask shapes to be written such as those found in critical curvilinear style designs. By enabling production of these new IC design forms, it creates opportunities for our U.S. and global customers to deliver higher performing IC products faster. This multibeam system is also capable to write the finest resolution EUV and nanoimprint masks allowing Photronics to directly support the most advanced U.S. photomask masks needs from our U.S. based technology center. We are engaged with multiple customers now to pilot and qualify this unique U.S. merchant capability.”
About Photronics
Photronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer of integrated circuit (IC) and flat panel display (FPD) photomasks. High precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits, photomasks are a key element in the IC and FPD manufacturing process. Founded in 1969, Photronics has been a trusted photomask supplier for over 56 years. The company operates 11 strategically located manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Additional information can be accessed at www.photronics.com .
For Further Information:
Ted Moreau
VP, Investor Relations
469.395.8175
[email protected]
