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nLIGHT Inc. Shares Hover Near Recent Highs as Defense Focus and Analyst Upgrades Drive Momentum

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Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt (left) and moderator Josh Constine (right)

nLIGHT, Inc. (NASDAQ: LASR), a leading provider of high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers for directed energy, optical sensing and advanced manufacturing, saw its stock maintain strength in mid-March 2026 trading, closing at $62.60 on March 13 amid continued investor enthusiasm following strong 2025 results and bullish analyst coverage.

nLIGHT, Inc
nLIGHT, Inc

The shares, which have surged dramatically from a 52-week low of $6.20 to a high of $69.52, traded in a daily range of $61.87 to $64.87 on March 13 with volume of about 1.06 million shares. After-hours activity dipped slightly to $62.10, reflecting a modest -0.80% pullback, but the stock remains up significantly year-to-date, benefiting from a pivot toward high-margin defense applications and away from commoditized industrial segments.

nLIGHT’s transformation story gained traction after its Feb. 26, 2026, earnings release, which delivered record fourth-quarter revenue of $81.2 million — a 71% year-over-year increase — and full-year 2025 revenue of $261.3 million, up 32%. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.14 for the quarter, beating consensus estimates by $0.03, while narrowing its net loss. Aerospace and defense revenue hit a record $175 million for the year, up 60% from 2024, underscoring the success of contracts in directed energy weapons and optical sensing for military platforms.

The earnings beat triggered a wave of positive revisions. Baird initiated coverage March 4 with an Outperform rating and a $95 price target, citing nLIGHT’s “strong tech stack” in high-energy lasers and its positioning in growing defense budgets. Roth Capital raised its target to $74 from $55 earlier in March, while other firms maintained Moderate Buy consensus ratings with averages around $58-$70 pre-surge levels. Analysts highlight nLIGHT’s vertically integrated capabilities — from semiconductor chips to full laser systems — as a differentiator in mission-critical applications where reliability and power output are paramount.

A key strategic move announced in late 2025/early 2026 involved exiting lower-margin cutting and welding markets, expected to create a $25 million to $30 million annual revenue headwind mostly phased out by the second half of 2026. To fund expansion, including a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Longmont, Colorado, nLIGHT completed a follow-on equity offering in February 2026, initially raising about $175 million before underwriters exercised their full option for an additional $26 million, totaling roughly $201 million in gross proceeds.

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The capital infusion supports R&D in high-energy laser weapon systems and supply-chain resilience, areas executives emphasized during investor conferences in March. nLIGHT management participated in multiple events, including the Raymond James 47th Annual Institutional Investors Conference and others, where presentation materials highlighted progress in directed energy programs and partnerships with U.S. Department of Defense primes.

Institutional interest remains robust. Recent filings show new positions, such as Pier Capital LLC acquiring 132,726 shares worth about $3.93 million in late 2025 activity, contributing to institutional ownership around 83.9%. The stock’s rally has boosted market capitalization to approximately $3.50 billion as of March 13, up more than 50% in the past month and over 80% over the trailing 12 months.

Despite the gains, challenges linger. nLIGHT continues to report operating losses on a GAAP basis, though adjusted metrics show improvement. Guidance for the first quarter of 2026 called for revenue of $70 million to $76 million, gross margins of 27% to 32% and adjusted EBITDA of $5 million to $10 million, reflecting a transitional period as industrial revenue declines are offset by defense growth.

The laser sector benefits from broader trends: increasing defense spending on directed energy for counter-drone and missile defense, plus demand for precision optical systems. Competitors in the space include IPG Photonics and Coherent, but nLIGHT’s focus on semiconductor-based high-power lasers positions it uniquely for next-generation weapons.

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On March 2, 2026, nLIGHT announced it would showcase high-energy laser weapon solutions at the Pacific Operational Science & Technology Conference, reinforcing its defense credentials. No major new announcements emerged in the immediate lead-up to March 16 trading, but the stock’s performance reflects sustained momentum from the earnings tailwind and analyst endorsements.

Looking ahead, investors watch for updates on defense contract wins, progress on the Longmont facility ramp-up and any signs of accelerated adoption in directed energy programs. With shares trading well above prior targets but below Baird’s ambitious $95 call, nLIGHT remains a high-conviction name for those betting on the intersection of laser technology and national security priorities.

As of March 16, 2026, with markets closed in some time zones but U.S. pre-market indications stable, nLIGHT’s trajectory illustrates a classic growth rebound: from pandemic-era lows to defense-driven highs. Whether the rally sustains depends on execution in a competitive, capital-intensive field — but for now, the laser specialist continues to shine brighter on Wall Street.

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eSafety Warned Elon Musk’s X Child Abuse Material Was ‘Particularly Systemic’ on the Platform

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X

The eSafety commissioner has warned Elon Musk’s X about the availability and accessibility of child abuse material on the platform.

It can be recalled the X’s Grok came under fire earlier this year for generating illegal deepfake images that have sexually depicted women and children.

eSafety Says Child Abuse Material is ‘Particularly Systemic’ on X

The revelations were made in a letter that Guardian Australia was able to obtain under freedom of information laws.

In the letter, eSafety’s general manager of regulatory operations, Heidi Snell, said that “the availability of CSEM [child sexual exploitation material] continues to appear particularly systemic on X”.

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“eSafety has not identified CSEM to be as readily accessible on any other mainstream service,” Snell added.

While the letter acknowledges X’s efforts to reduce the number of such material on the platform, Snell said that they were still rather prevalent as seen in hashtags advertising CSEM.

“We are concerned that apparently innocuous hashtags appear to be coopted to advertise CSEM, particularly when used together,” Snell said.

The Guardian notes in its report that it was unable to retrieve X’s response to eSafety’s letter.

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Grok’s Deepfake Scandal

It can be recalled that X was embroiled in a scandal back in January when Grok began to generate sexualised content.

At that time, eSafety released a statement, saying that it “remains concerned about the use of the generative AI system Grok on X to generate content that may sexualise or exploit people, particularly children.”

While eSafety acknowledged that it was only getting a small number of reports on the issue, it already wrote to X regarding the matter.

“Additional mandatory codes will commence on 9 March 2026, which create new obligations for AI services, among others, to limit children’s access to sexually explicit content, as well as violent material and themes related to self-harm and suicide,” eSafety added in its statement.

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VNQ: REIT ETFs Are Not Suitable For Income (NYSEARCA:VNQ)

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VNQ: REIT ETFs Are Not Suitable For Income (NYSEARCA:VNQ)

This article was written by

English and Brazilian Portuguese localization specialist and writer specializing in Finance, Economics, and Investments. My strategy is focused on wealth preservation, income, and long-term appreciation. My national portfolio is made of Brazilian hand-picked stocks and real estate funds, and my international one consists of ETFs that cover the entire globe.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Vertiv: Remains A Fantastic Pick And Shovel AI Play

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Vertiv: Remains A Fantastic Pick And Shovel AI Play

Vertiv: Remains A Fantastic Pick And Shovel AI Play

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Rupee falls 14 paise to 92.42 against US dollar in early trade

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Rupee falls 14 paise to 92.42 against US dollar in early trade
The rupee lost 14 paise and traded at 92.42 against the US dollar in early deals on Tuesday, as it failed to resist pressure from rising crude oil prices and the incessant withdrawal of foreign funds amid the heightened West Asia crisis.

Subdued domestic equity markets and elevated American currency also weighed on the local unit even as investors moved cautiously, awaiting the interest rate decision of the US Federal Reserve, according to forex traders.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 92.35 and fell further to trade at 92.42 against the US dollar, registering a 14-paise decline from its previous closing level.

The local unit ended Monday’s session with a marginal gain of 2 paise at 92.28 against the dollar.

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The rupee, one of the worst-performing Asian currencies, touched its lowest intra-day level of 92.47 at the end of the previous week before closing the session at 92.30 against the dollar, its lowest-ever closing level until Friday.


Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.19 per cent higher at 99.65.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 2.68 per cent at USD 102.87 per barrel in futures trade. On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex declined 91.62 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 75,411.23 in early trade, while the Nifty fell 34.25 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 23,374.55.

The latest government data released on Monday showed the country’s trade deficit narrowed to USD 27.1 billion in February compared to January.

Merchandise exports dropped marginally by 0.81 per cent to USD 36.61 billion, while imports increased by 24.11 per cent to USD 63.71 billion in February this year from USD 51.33 billion recorded a year ago.

Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 9,365.52 crore on a net basis on Monday, according to exchange data.

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Easter holidaymakers switching from Dubai to Spain as flights fill up

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Easter holidaymakers switching from Dubai to Spain as flights fill up

It comes after the war in Iran caused mass disruption to flights across the Middle East and UAE.

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Growth Plans, Asset Optimization, and Future Investment Strategies

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Growth Plans, Asset Optimization, and Future Investment Strategies

Indonesia’s Danantara, a sovereign investment platform, supports long-term growth by directing capital into key sectors, improving SOE performance, and aiming for $50 billion annual returns.

Indonesia’s Sovereign Investment Platform: Danantara

Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has completed its first year, marking a significant step in the country’s long-term economic planning. Positioned at the core of Indonesia’s strategy, Danantara aims to direct national capital toward critical sectors and large-scale development projects, moving beyond merely holding state enterprise assets. This shift reflects Indonesia’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through strategic investments.

Strategic Goals and Sector Oversight

The platform manages a diverse portfolio across key industries such as banking, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, and mining. Its role is to facilitate targeted investments that support industrial expansion and improve infrastructure. Early indicators show that Danantara is beginning to align state assets with national economic priorities, laying a foundation for broader economic stability and growth.

Asset Management and Future Ambitions

Danantara has set ambitious financial targets, aiming to generate around US$50 billion annually with a 5% return on assets. While comprehensive performance data remains limited due to ongoing restructuring, initial reports highlight a substantial 300% improvement in the return on assets of SOEs under its management. These early results suggest that governance reforms are effectively bolstering asset performance.

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Read the original article : Indonesia’s Danantara After Year One: Growth Targets, Asset Consolidation, and Investment Implications

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Train delay repay rule changes to make claims easier

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Train delay repay rule changes to make claims easier

There will also be additional checks on railcards during a trial to crack down on fraud.

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PGIM Jennison Energy Infrastructure Fund Q4 2025: Who Moved The Needle

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PGIM Jennison Energy Infrastructure Fund Q4 2025: Who Moved The Needle

PGIM Investments, a subsidiary of PFI, is an investment adviser and the investment manager to all PGIM US open-end investment companies and manager or administrator to closed-end investment companies. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by PGIM Investments, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use PGIM Investments’ official channels.

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Truist Financial: Truly Sound Fundamentals Don't Outweigh Valuation And Technical Caution

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Truist Financial: Truly Sound Fundamentals Don't Outweigh Valuation And Technical Caution

Truist Financial: Truly Sound Fundamentals Don't Outweigh Valuation And Technical Caution

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Form 144 Sprouts Farmers Market For: 17 March

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Form 144 Sprouts Farmers Market For: 17 March

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