New York, Jan 26, 2026, 16:09 EST — Trading after hours.
- Astera Labs shares dropped roughly 3.5% in after-hours trading.
- The decline hit during a week loaded with megacap tech earnings and a Federal Reserve policy announcement.
- Astera Labs will release its quarterly results on Feb. 10.
Astera Labs, Inc. shares dropped roughly 3.5% to $163.73 in after-hours trading Monday, following an intraday range between $162.88 and $173.25. 1
Markets now face a crucial week that will test the strength of the “AI trade,” with the Federal Reserve set to announce its decision Wednesday, followed by earnings reports from Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Tesla later on.
Astera Labs, which supplies chips embedded deep in data center and AI infrastructure, faces swift shifts when investors question the payoff of Big Tech’s spending and the duration of that buildout.
Semiconductor stocks showed a mixed picture. Nvidia dipped roughly 0.6%, Broadcom climbed around 1.6%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF edged down about 0.4%. Astera Labs shares lagged behind this relatively mild sector shift.
Astera Labs positions itself as a key player in speeding data movement within cloud and AI infrastructure. The company points to its exposure to these expanding sectors as both a growth driver and a potential vulnerability if demand changes. 2
“Communications and technology sectors are showing strength ahead of earnings reports from several big players,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. Meanwhile, Chris Larkin of E*Trade, part of Morgan Stanley, noted that Wednesday’s Fed announcement is set to keep political issues front and center. 3
For high-growth chip stocks, rate expectations and the outlook from major AI investors can quickly shift valuations—even without any company-specific news.
That said, the setup works both ways. Should megacap earnings fall short or the Fed signal a more aggressive tightening than anticipated, investors might shift even more toward stocks linked to data center capital expenditure and those with premium multiples.
Astera Labs is gearing up to release its quarterly report, which will be closely watched for clues on demand, margin shifts, and, crucially, updated guidance that could reshape forecasts for 2026.
Astera Labs is set to release its earnings and hold a call on Feb. 10. 4
