Quality Investor

nLIGHT, Inc.

Rank #388Hypergrowth

LASR · Nasdaq · Technology

nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR) — Rank #388 by gross profitability (GP/assets 0.15) · ROE -5.3% · Piotroski F-Score N/A.

As-of 2026-09-28 · CIK 0001124796 · all metrics point-in-time as of the filing date.

About

nLIGHT, Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of semiconductor and fiber lasers for aerospace and defense, industrial, and microfabrication applications.

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It operates through two segments, Laser Products and Advanced Development. The company offers semiconductor lasers with various ranges of power levels, wavelengths, and output fiber sizes; and programmable and serviceable fiber lasers for use in aerospace and defense and industrial applications. It also provides fiber amplifiers, beam combination, and control systems for use in high-energy laser systems in directed energy applications. The company sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, China, South Korea, and European countries, as well as through independent sales representatives and distributors in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The company was formerly known as nLight Photonics Corporation and changed its name to nLIGHT, Inc. in January 2016. nLIGHT, Inc.

was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Camas, Washington.

Industry
Semiconductors
Sector
Technology
State
DE
Filer Category
Large accelerated filer
Fiscal Year End
December 31
Website
nlight.net

Company Snapshot

P/S is the primary valuation lens — earnings are reinvested, not available for P/E.

Market Cap

—

P/E (annual)

—

P/S (annual)

—

P/B

—

P/OCF (annual)

—

Shareholder Yield

—

Employees

800

Industry

Semiconductors

Exchange

Nasdaq

Signal Flags

1 green2 yellow
Revenue growth acceleratingGrowth rate increasing year over year
Dilution above 2%Annual share count increase exceeds 2%. May be acceptable for high-growth companies funding talent via stock compensation
Disclosure regressionA previously-disclosed line item is no longer reported — worth checking the filing for why

Quality Profile

Profitability

1/1 pass
GP / assets
0.15
Return on equity
-5.3%
Gross margin trend
PASS

Safety

1/1 pass
Balance-sheet safety
PASS
Debt / equity
0.18
Current ratio
8.17×
Net cash
$330.45M

Cash Flow

3/3 pass
Positive FCF
PASS
Cash-backed earnings
PASS
Accruals healthy
PASS
SBC / revenue
12.8%

Growth

1/2 pass
Revenue growth
31.6%
Piotroski F-Score
N/A
Share dilution
4.3%

Terry Smith quality gate

Passes 0/5 Terry Smith thresholds

2 of 5 thresholds not computable from filed data.

Revenue growth and the path to profitability (margin trend) are the primary reads at this stage.

Profitability

Gross profitability (GP / assets)

0.15

Primary signal (Novy-Marx).

10th pctl of 21 SIC 3674 peers

Return on equity

-5.3%

Gross margin

29.8%

0th pctl of 21 SIC 3674 peers

Revenue growth (YoY)

31.6%

Gross margin improving

Margin trend vs prior year.

PASS

Operating Leverage

2022202320242025
Revenue vs COGS
Revenue vs OpEx
Op. Income vs Revenue

Growth

Revenue CAGR (3Y)

2.6%

Revenue CAGR (5Y)

3.2%

Earnings CAGR (3Y)

—

FCF CAGR (3Y)

—

Anti-fragile safety

Balance-sheet safety

Composite anti-fragile check.

PASS

Debt / equity

0.18

84th pctl of 20 SIC 3674 peers (best = lowest)

Current ratio

8.17×

95th pctl of 21 SIC 3674 peers

Quick ratio

6.89×

Net cash

$330.45M

Cash & equivalents minus total debt.

Cash-flow health

Free cash flow

$12.30M

Operating cash flow minus capex.

Positive free cash flow

PASS

FCF / net income

1.52

Cash-backing of earnings.

FCF/NI divergence

Unfavorable divergence (yellow flag).

PASS

Accruals healthy

Cash-backed earnings.

PASS

SBC / revenue

12.8%

Stock-based comp intensity.

Piotroski F-Score

F-Score

N/A

Only 8/9 components determinable.

Lifecycle Phase History

20202025
Hypergrowth
Decline