STRATEGY NOTE AI market heading to the next phase: Current status of laser tech and semiconductor cycle Market analysis and investment strategy INSIGHT Reading markets through structure

Introduction: AI market has entered the “next stage”

AI stocks are clearly at a tipping point.

The market so far has been

=> “AI will grow” => “That’s why related stocks will go up.”

It was a very simple structure.

But now it's different.

=> Is it profitable => Will I be able to recover my investment

This perspective is beginning to be strongly recognized.

In other words, now

Expected advance market price → Actual demand confirmation market price

It is a transition phase.

The essence of OpenAI growth slowdown

The point this time is simple.

The problem isn't OpenAI's performance.

=> This is the very structure of AI business.

The generation AI

  • Extremely high computational cost
  • Huge infrastructure investment
  • It takes time to turn a profit

It has the following characteristics.

Therefore, the market

  • Is GPU investment excessive?
  • Are data centers being built too much? *Will semiconductor demand continue?

I'm starting to have doubts.

However, “AI demand has not collapsed”

This is important.

The AI ​​boom is far from over.

Rather, what is happening is

=> Screening

It is.

In fact,

*TSMC

  • ASML

continue to maintain a bullish investment stance.

In other words,

=> The era when “AI can improve anything” is over => Towards a phase where “funds remain in the areas where they are needed”

This is the current market.

Lasertech position

Lasertech is

=> Not an AI company

However,

=> Companies essential to making AI semiconductors

It is.

Especially the strengths are

  • EUV mask inspection equipment
  • Inspection for advanced processes

It is.

As semiconductors become smaller,

=> Inspection becomes more important

There is a structure.

This is extremely important.

=> Business becomes more necessary as technology advances

That's why.

Evaluation of latest financial results (important points)

The main points of the latest financial results are simple.

*Sales: Almost flat *Operating income: Slight decrease *Net profit: Increase

What you can read from here

=> Demand has not fully recovered yet => However, profitability is maintained

This is the situation.

More importantly,

=> Growth in service sales

It is.

This is

  • Expansion of stock-type earnings
  • Stabilization of profits

means.

Towards a structure that does not depend on short-term equipment sales,

It's progressing little by little.

What is included in stock prices?

This is the core of investment decisions.

The current stock price is

=> Already starting to factor in recovery in 2027

It is thought that.

In other words,

  • Good news → hard to rise
  • Bad news → easy to fall

This is the situation.

so-called

=> Expected advance phase

It is.

Future checkpoints (super important)

Investment decisions boil down to these three things.

  • Will orders recover?
  • Will service sales continue to grow?
  • Will semiconductor investment (especially TSMC) be maintained?

If this doesn't collapse,

The story continues.

6 Month Outlook

The short term is pretty clear.

=> There is room to rise, but the price movement is rough

Reason:

*Influenced by overall AI-related sentiment

  • Expectations are already high

Assumption:

  • Good results → Try the top price
  • Expectations not met → Immediate adjustments

1 Year Outlook

There is one focus.

=> Recovery of orders → Will it lead to growth in 2027

If you can confirm this,

=> Re-evaluation

will be done.

On the contrary,

=> Orders remain weak

Then,

=> Valuation adjustment

There is a possibility that

Investment scenario

Bullish (35%)

  • Demand for AI semiconductors continues
  • Orders clearly recovered

=> Stock price: Try to update high price

Basic (45%)

  • Performance is stable
  • Recovery is gradual

=> Stock prices: Struggling in the high price range

Bearish (20%)

  • Doubts about AI investment
  • Slowdown in capital investment

=> Stock price: 20-30% adjustment

Investment risk

Profitability issues of AI investment

→ Assumptions about semiconductor demand are shaken

Delay in order recovery

→ Advance expectations for stock prices have dissipated

Discrepancy in acceptance inspection timing

→ Discrepancies in short-term performance

Exchange

→ Impact on profits

High valuation

→ Widening decline when expectations decline

Investment decisions: How should you approach them?

The conclusion is simple.

Lasertech is

=> Promising in the long term => Short term is difficult

It's a brand.

Therefore,

=> than having it in the core => It is more reasonable to use it as a satellite

It is.

Summary

  • AI market is not collapsing, but is sorting out
  • Lasertec is an important company on the infrastructure side
  • Business results are solid, but recovery is on the way
  • Stock prices have already factored in expectations.

And importantly,

=> Right now, it's not a case of being bullish, but a situation where we need to assess the situation

That's what it means.