New York, Jan 15, 2026, 08:00 EST — Premarket
- POET shares ticked up in premarket following a steep rally in the previous session
- Short-dated call options saw heavy volume, pushing implied volatility higher
- Traders are focused on Friday’s options expiry and the upcoming earnings season
POET Technologies Inc shares jumped 2.1% to $8.26 in premarket Thursday, following a 13.3% surge during regular trading the day before. On Wednesday, the stock fluctuated between $6.88 and $8.26, with roughly 12.2 million shares traded. 1
POET has surged back into the spotlight for short-term traders as options expiry and the upcoming earnings cycle approach. The company’s market cap stands near $1.1 billion, with shares fluctuating between $3.10 and $9.41 over the last year, according to data. 2
Bullish option activity hit a high on Wednesday, with 18,863 call contracts changing hands—roughly double the average volume—according to TipRanks’ TheFly feed. Implied volatility rose to 95.20%, reflecting the market’s expectations for bigger price swings based on options prices. POET’s put/call ratio stood at just 0.06, signaling a scarcity of puts, or downside bets. 3
January $7 and $8 calls drew most of the action—these contracts let buyers purchase shares at a fixed price. When volume piles up close to expiry, it often nudges the stock in the thinly traded market.
The move arrives with no new corporate announcement. POET’s investor news page lists its latest press release from November. 4
Toronto-based POET develops photonic integrated circuits, light sources, and optical modules aimed at AI systems and data centers, all built on its Optical Interposer platform. Chairman and CEO Suresh Venkatesan told investors in November that early production orders marked “the beginning of a revenue ramp” he expects to “increase steadily throughout 2026.” 5
S&P 500 futures edged up slightly in early trading, while volatility futures surged. Broader markets held steady as oil prices plunged and Treasury yields shifted. 6
POET’s surge has felt more like traders jockeying for position than genuine price discovery. Premarket liquidity often inflates initial moves. When implied volatility is elevated, rallies sparked by options can reverse quickly.
Any hiccup in the company’s move from development to volume shipments could put its recent stock gains at risk. For smaller hardware players linked to AI infrastructure spending, a delay can derail momentum just as quickly as landing a deal can spark it.
Traders are eyeing Friday’s monthly options expiration on Jan. 16 to see if volume stays steady after the contracts expire. The next earnings report is slated for March 26, based on Investing.com’s data, although the company hasn’t officially announced the date. 7
