NEW YORK, Feb 2, 2026, 2:52 PM EST — Regular session
- nLIGHT shares rise roughly 6% in afternoon trading following a preview at the defense show
- The company announced it will showcase a 70kW-class laser weapon system in Riyadh next week
- Investors are watching for follow-on orders and the full quarterly update following the company’s January pre-release
Shares of nLIGHT jumped 6.3% to $48.50 Monday following the announcement that the company plans to unveil a new 70kW-class laser weapon system at the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Feb. 8-12.
nLIGHT’s shift toward defense has caught investors’ attention, who are eagerly factoring in any signs of wider acceptance for directed-energy systems. These lasers are marketed as quicker, more cost-effective options for countering drones and small threats—a sector that’s seeing military spending.
The World Defense Show isn’t about handing out contracts, but it does serve as a showcase. For firms selling high-power lasers for “mission-critical” applications, running public demos can attract speculative investment—especially with the stock already on the move.
nLIGHT announced plans to showcase its 70kW-class system, along with 30kW and 10kW high-energy lasers. The company highlighted “coherent beam combining,” a technique that stacks multiple laser beams to boost power output. Business Wire
The stock fluctuated from $43.65 up to $49.27 earlier today, with trading volume near 650,000 shares—about what it’s been seeing recently on a daily basis.
Part of the buying interest might stem from investors focusing on nLIGHT’s own projections from earlier this year. On January 13, the company announced it expects fourth-quarter 2025 revenue between $78 million and $80 million, exceeding the previous top estimate. Around $24 million to $25 million of that is linked to “Advanced Development” projects, which often cover defense contracts. nLIGHT
Last week, nLIGHT announced it secured an additional 50,000 square feet of leased manufacturing and office space in Longmont, Colorado, boosting its capacity for high-energy laser production.
Laser and photonics stocks climbed broadly on Monday. Coherent advanced roughly 6%, Lumentum jumped close to 10%, while IPG Photonics ticked up around 3%.
Investors are now zeroing in on one key question: will the show-and-tell translate into actual booked orders? And when nLIGHT finally releases its full quarterly report, will it support the recent rally with guidance that keeps the momentum alive?
Risks are clear. Defense purchases often come in fits and starts, demonstrations don’t always pan out, and export and security regulations can muddy overseas demand—even when the interest is genuine.
nLIGHT continues to link its directed-energy technology to active projects, highlighting its delivery of a 50kW-class laser for U.S. Army Stryker vehicles within the DE M-SHORAD program.
The next immediate catalyst will be the World Defense Show, scheduled for Feb. 8-12 in Riyadh. Investors will watch closely for new program announcements, partnership updates, or timeline revisions from the company.
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