New York, Jan 8, 2026, 14:31 EST — Regular session
Coherent Corp shares slid 9.6% to $173.31 in afternoon trading on Thursday, reversing earlier gains as a wave of selling hit some AI-linked hardware names. The stock ranged from $192.50 to $173.29, with volume running a bit above its recent average.
The drop comes as investors get more selective about pricey AI-related stocks after a big run, even as the broader U.S. market stayed mixed. “While AI is still hot, there are going to be winners and losers,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth. 1
The selling was not limited to Coherent. Shares of Ciena fell about 14%, Lumentum dropped nearly 12%, and Vertiv was down almost 7%, a sign traders were cutting exposure across networking and data-center infrastructure.
Coherent makes lasers, transceivers and other optical and optoelectronic devices used in communications and industrial markets, according to a Reuters company profile. Its Datacenter & Communications unit sells products such as transceivers — plug-in modules that convert electrical signals into light for high-speed links — along with related components and subsystems. 2
Thursday’s slide also yanked the stock further from its recent highs. Coherent’s 52-week high was $200.19, Zacks data showed, leaving the shares with less room for error when risk appetite cools. 3
Sentiment around the AI supply chain has been jumpy this week, with headlines landing hard on anything tied to the buildout. Reuters reported earlier on Thursday that Nvidia is requiring full upfront payment from Chinese customers seeking its H200 chips amid uncertainty over approvals, a reminder that policy and logistics can still jerk the trade around.
The risk for Coherent is that customers slow orders if cloud and telecom spending pauses, or if inventory builds up again in parts of the optical market. In that scenario, expectations baked into the shares — especially after the run-up into year-end — can unwind fast.
