DURHAM, N.C., May 1, 2026, 14:00 EDT
Wolfspeed Inc. climbed sharply in Friday’s afternoon session. A new securities filing revealed that a group associated with Susquehanna and Capital Ventures now holds a 5.0% beneficial stake in the silicon carbide chipmaker. Shares changed hands above 5.3 million, the stock last at $37.14—up $7.61 on the day. SEC
Timing is key here. Wolfspeed’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call lands on May 5—less than a week out. Investors remain cautious, still gauging the company’s rebound since it left Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Wolfspeed Investor Relations
Wolfspeed produces silicon carbide chips—these offer greater energy efficiency and show up in electric vehicles, solar inverters, and industrial power setups. The company has faced choppy demand. Bigger competitors like STMicroelectronics and Infineon have also crowded into this market. Reuters
Capital Ventures International, Susquehanna Advisors Group, G1 Execution Services, SIG Brokerage, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments, and Susquehanna Securities all showed up as reporting persons in the May 1 Schedule 13G filing. Together, the group disclosed holding 2,476,242 shares—5.0% of Wolfspeed’s common stock—reflecting ownership as of April 24. SEC
A Schedule 13G—required for certain big U.S. shareholders—shows the securities weren’t picked up by Capital Ventures with any intent to take control or sway Wolfspeed. That firm’s total, according to the filing, factors in shares from convertible notes. Susquehanna Securities, meanwhile, reported a figure that folds in options for 1,237,967 shares. SEC
This week, Wolfspeed shuffled its leadership ranks. Brad Kohn is set to return May 11 as executive vice president, chief legal and global affairs officer. Sonja Burfeind comes aboard as vice president of communications starting July 1. Burfeind previously worked in senior communications posts at Infineon—a direct silicon carbide rival. Wolfspeed
Chief Executive Robert Feurle described the new hires as a move to help Wolfspeed connect more effectively with “customers, shareholders, and policymakers.” Kohn, whose resume includes previous stints at Wolfspeed, Martin Marietta Materials, and MEMC Electronic Materials, steps in to lead the company’s legal, compliance, government affairs, and public-policy operations. Wolfspeed
Wolfspeed’s shakeup at the top follows a March debt refinancing. According to a filing, the company issued $379 million of 3.5% convertible secured notes due 2031 and used the gross proceeds to pay off roughly $475.9 million in senior notes. As of March 26, Wolfspeed held about $1.0 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. SEC
Wolfspeed’s latest quarter didn’t offer much relief. The company pulled in roughly $168 million in fiscal second-quarter revenue, logged a GAAP net loss of $151 million, and posted adjusted EBITDA at negative $82 million. Looking ahead, Wolfspeed is guiding for fiscal third-quarter revenue somewhere between $140 million and $160 million. Wolfspeed Investor Relations
Back in February, Feurle described the company as “operating with discipline” post-restructuring. CFO Gregor van Issum flagged cost controls, noting cuts to expenses and capital spending, plus sharper emphasis on “quality, cost and speed.” By quarter’s end, the company reported $1.3 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Wolfspeed Investor Relations
Still, the rally leaves the core risk untouched. Wolfspeed warned that fiscal third-quarter revenue would drop, pointing to customers buying ahead, second-sourcing tied to the bankruptcy process, and softer EV demand. The company also projected another negative gross margin for the quarter. Wolfspeed Investor Relations
The focus now shifts to Tuesday’s earnings call, where Feurle and van Issum will take questions. Investors aren’t so much zoning in on upcoming products as they are on order quality, cash burn, and whether Wolfspeed is finally parlaying balance sheet repairs into more predictable demand. Wolfspeed Investor Relations
