New York, Feb 7, 2026, 20:34 (EST) — Market’s done for the day.
Astera Labs, Inc. ripped higher on Friday, jumping 18.9% to finish at $169.85. Shares started the day at $142.82 and moved between $151.42 and $170.01, with volume reaching roughly 7.3 million. 1
U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, putting the spotlight squarely on the Nasdaq-listed chip-connectivity company ahead of Monday’s open. Next week’s quarterly report is coming up, a crucial look at appetite for the components that power AI data centers.
Astera Labs, which builds connectivity chips and software for shuttling data between processors, memory, and networking gear inside servers, has become a volatile favorite for investors betting on cloud spending. The stock is seen as a gauge for whether big AI-driven investments are flowing down the rest of the supply chain.
Semiconductor stocks rallied Friday after Amazon unveiled hefty AI investment plans, according to Investopedia. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang told CNBC that demand was “going through the roof.” The PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index surged almost 6%. 2
Sector sentiment is getting a lift from a bullish industry outlook, even as leaders note lingering uncertainty. The Semiconductor Industry Association projects global chip sales will reach $1 trillion in 2026, following $791.7 billion in 2025. SIA chief John Neuffer, speaking to Reuters, said: “No one knows what’s going to happen with the AI build out a year from now, but my orders are completely full.” 3
Astera Labs plans to report its fourth-quarter numbers once markets close at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, with a conference call set for 4:30 p.m. ET. CEO Jitendra Mohan, along with President and COO Sanjay Gajendra and CFO Mike Tate, will be on the line. 4
Astera is expecting fourth-quarter revenue between $245 million and $253 million, Zacks Investment Research noted on Nasdaq—a 6% to 10% bump from the prior quarter. The company’s guidance also calls for a gross margin near 75%. Zacks flagged competitors as well, listing Broadcom, Marvell, and Credo among Astera’s rivals in connectivity. 5
So traders are back to watching the usual markers: can Astera deliver on targets and maintain margins as its product lineup evolves? The outlook also needs to line up with the revived chatter about big AI infrastructure outlays.
Still, with the stock surging, expectations are now much higher heading into the print. If revenue falls short, the 2026 outlook slips, or margins get pinched more than anticipated, any of those could hit hard for a name so tightly wound to AI hardware sentiment.
Come Monday, the focus turns to whether Friday’s action sticks or reverses. Tuesday brings the next potential spark: results and the subsequent call.
