Applied Opt (AAOI.US) Price Target 2026/2027: 15% Upside – Rating and Stock Analysis

129,52
0,75%
Price history for Applied Opt (AAOI.US) – stock price at 129.52 $, August 2026
Applied Opt stock price – price development 2026. Updated Aug 6, 2026.
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Applied Opt Price Target 2026: Analysts See 16% Upside

The average price target for Applied Opt is $150.30. This price target represents the analysts' view of the stock price over the next 12 months. The stock may be undervalued, because the price target is higher than the current price. The stock is 16,04% below the target, which can point to potential returns within the next 12 months if the analysts' view proves right. Also consider the stock's valuation ratios such as P/E, P/S and P/B, plus the technical analysis further down the page, for the full picture.

Is Applied Opt overvalued or undervalued?

Applied Opt is currently undervalued with a gap of 16% relative to the price target.


The current price is $129.52, which places Applied Opt in the undervalued category. The stock is considered undervalued when the price is below $135.27, and overvalued when the price exceeds $165.33.


The fair value range is defined as ±10% of the price target, because price targets are estimates rather than exact values. For Applied Opt, the fair value range lies between $135.27 and $165.33.


See the full price target analysis for Applied Opt →

Analyst Ratings for Applied Opt stock in 2026: Buy

5 analysts cover Applied Opt. There is broad agreement on a positive view — 80% recommend buying. The average price target is $150.30, which gives an upside of 16% from the current price.

Consensus: Buy (4.20/5)
Strong Buy
2 (40%)
Buy
2 (40%)
Hold
1 (20%)
Strong Sell Sell Hold Buy Strong Buy
4.20 out of 5 based on 5 analysts

About Applied Opt – Communication Equipment

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China. The company offers optical modules, optical filters, lasers, laser components, subassemblies, transmitters and transceivers, turn-key equipment, headend, node, and distribution equipment, as well as amplifiers. It sells its products to internet data center operators, cable television, telecom equipment manufacturers, fiber-to-the-home, and internet service providers through its direct and indirect sales channels. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas. Read more about the company

Key Figures for Applied Opt

$ 10,3B Market cap
$ 507M Revenue
Communication Equipment Industry
- P/E
20.35 P/S
6.84 P/B
USA Listed on exchange
ao-inc.com Website

What kind of stock is Applied Opt?

Speculative stock

Applied Opt is classified as a speculative stock.

Score Overview for Applied Opt

💰 Value Score 9/100 (Very Low)
⭐ Quality Score 14/100 (Very Low)
🚀 Momentum Score 24/100 (Low)
📊 Total Score 15/100

⚠️ 4 red flags identified

Our analysis has identified 4 potential risk factors in Applied Opt that investors should be aware of.

⚠️ Weak financial health: The Piotroski score is only 2/9 – the company shows signs of weakened profitability, liquidity or capital structure.
⚠️ Negative profit margin: The profit margin is -8.6% – the company is losing money on its operations.
⚠️ Negative return on equity: ROE is -6.1% – the company is generating a negative return for shareholders.
⚠️ High short interest: 12.9% of the shares are sold short – many professional investors are betting on price declines.

📈 Valuation

The P/S ratio is 20.3 (high — the market pays a premium for the revenue). The P/B ratio is 6.8. The PEG ratio is 0.78 — below 1.0 suggests the stock is cheap relative to its growth rate.

🏦 Financial Health

The Piotroski score is 2 out of 9 — weak financial health, be careful. Altman Z2 is 4.34 (healthy balance sheet — low risk). The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) is 138.8% — moderate debt.

🚀 Momentum & Short Interest

Short interest is 12.86% — very high, the market is skeptical.

Insider Trading in Applied Opt 2026: The Signal Is negative

In 2026, insiders at Applied Opt have made 20 transactions, all of which were sales. On a net basis, insiders took 57,369,816 $ out of the stock. Active insiders include Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua), Murry Stefan J., Lin Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) and others. In the short term (last 3 months), the insider signal is negative.

Short-Term Signal (3 months): Negative

Insiders have exclusively sold shares over the last 3 months.

Over the last 3 months: 0 purchases and 20 sales. A net 57,369,816 $ out of the stock.

Long-Term Signal (all transactions): Negative

Insiders have exclusively sold shares in the recent period. This can suggest management sees limited opportunity.

Across the last 20 transactions: 0 purchases and 20 sales. A net 57,369,816 $ out of the stock.

Latest sale: Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua) sold 4,715 shares at 127 $ each on 2026-08-04.

Who is selling: Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua), Murry Stefan J., Lin Chih-Hsiang (Thompson), Kuo David C, Chang Hung-Lun (Fred) and others.

Latest Insider Trades in Applied Opt (2026)

The table shows the last 20 reported insider transactions in Applied Opt. Green rows are purchases, red rows are sales. The data is based on official filings.

Transaction date Name Type Number of shares Price per share ($) Total amount ($)
2026-08-04 Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua) Sell 4,715 127 596,448
2026-07-22 Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua) Sell 2,553 119 304,471
2026-07-22 Murry Stefan J. Sell 2,971 119 354,321
2026-07-22 Lin Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Sell 8,753 119 1,043,883
2026-07-22 Kuo David C Sell 1,869 119 222,897
2026-07-22 Chang Hung-Lun (Fred) Sell 2,674 119 318,901
2026-07-21 Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua) Sell 1,285 120 154,226
2026-07-10 Murry Stefan J. Sell 4,000 122 488,360
2026-06-18 Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua) Sell 6,000 172 1,031,340
2026-06-17 Chang Hung-Lun (Fred) Sell 40,329 171 6,880,127

Who is buying and selling Applied Opt shares in 2026?

The following insiders have sold shares: Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua), Murry Stefan J., Lin Chih-Hsiang (Thompson), Kuo David C, Chang Hung-Lun (Fred) and others. In total, 57,369,816 $ was sold across 20 transactions. Insider trades are legal transactions in which executives and board members buy or sell shares of their own company. These transactions are reported to the SEC and are publicly available.

Applied Opt Short Selling 2026: 12.9% Sold Short

Very high short interest: 12.9% of the free float
Short % of free float
12.9%
Assessment
Very high short interest
Short squeeze risk
High
Data source
SEC
Updated daily
The stock has a very high share of short selling. Between 10-20% of the freely traded shares are sold short, which points to considerable bearish sentiment. A positive earnings report or unexpectedly good news can trigger a short squeeze with sharp price gains.

What does this mean for you as an investor?
A short interest of 12.9% means that 12.9% of the freely traded shares in Applied Opt have been borrowed and sold by investors betting on falling prices. On positive surprises (e.g. a strong earnings report), short sellers can be forced to buy back shares quickly to close their positions, which can cause a short squeeze with sharp price gains in a short time.

The next potential catalyst is the earnings report on 8/6/2026. With a short interest of 12.9%, the report can trigger considerable volatility.

Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Short Interest Scale
0% 2% 5% 10% 20%+
Low Moderate High Very High Extreme
12.9%

Applied Opt Earnings – ⚡ Reporting TODAY 8/6/2026

The next earnings date for Applied Opt is not yet available. Check the company's investor calendar for more information.



Technical Analysis of Applied Opt 2026 – Signal: Hold

Overall Technical Signal: Hold

Based on trend analysis (SMA50/SMA200) and MACD trend (positive/negative on a daily + weekly basis). Updated August 6, 2026.

Technical analysis of Applied Opt (AAOI.US) – RSI 55, MACD negative (bearish), daily candlestick chart August 2026
Applied Opt technical analysis – candlestick chart with RSI and MACD. Updated Aug 6, 2026.

Trend Analysis of Applied Opt

Applied Opt is in a short-term uptrend. The price of $128.56 is 19.4% above the 20-day average ($107.67). Medium term, the picture is negative: the price is 8.3% below the 50-day average ($140.17). Long term, the stock is 40.6% above the 200-day average ($91.42), which confirms a long-term uptrend.

Golden Cross: The 50-day average (140.17) is above the 200-day average (91.42), which is a classic bullish signal for Applied Opt.

Is Applied Opt overbought or oversold?

Applied Opt has an RSI of 54.6, right in the middle of the neutral zone. There is no clear buying or selling pressure.

MACD Analysis for Applied Opt

Daily MACD: MACD is negative (-6.915), which means the short-term trend is bearish (the 12-day EMA is below the 26-day EMA). MACD is above the signal line (-11.928) by 5.013, which suggests the negative momentum is fading – a potential trend reversal could be ahead.

Weekly MACD: MACD5 is positive (10.533), which indicates a broader bullish long-term trend. MACD5 is below the signal line (22.935) by 12.402, which suggests the long-term momentum is fading – the positive trend could come under pressure.

Overall MACD assessment: The daily and weekly MACD give conflicting signals. The long-term trend is bullish, but the short-term trend is bearish. Daily momentum is rising, though, which could suggest the pullback is over.

Risk Profile for Applied Opt

Applied Opt has an annual standard deviation of 145.6%, which classifies the stock as extreme risk. Only risk-tolerant investors should consider this stock, because the price swings can be very large.

Overall Technical Conclusion for Applied Opt

Trend: Neutral/mixed.

MACD trend (zero line): Daily bearish (-6.915). Weekly bullish (10.533).

MACD momentum (signal): Daily rising. Weekly falling.

RSI: 54.6 – neutral.

Technical signal: Hold

The signals are mixed – trend and MACD point in different directions. Wait until MACD crosses the zero line in the direction of the trend before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Applied Opt stock in 2026

Should you buy Applied Opt stock now?
The technical signal for Applied Opt is currently NEUTRAL. Applied Opt trades at $129.52 as of 8/6/2026. The overall technical signal is: Hold. The technical analysis shows the following: MACD is negative (bearish trend) at -6.915 with rising momentum (signal: -11.928); RSI is at 54.6 (neutral zone); the stock is in a short-term uptrend (price above the 20-day average); the analyst price target of $150.30 points to 16.0% upside. This is a technical observation based on current data, not investment advice.
What is the price target for Applied Opt stock?
The average analyst price target for Applied Opt is $150.30. The current price is $129.52, which gives an upside of 16.0%. Based on this, the stock is considered undervalued. The fair value range (±10% of the price target) is between $135.27 and $165.33.
Is Applied Opt a dividend stock?
No, Applied Opt does not currently pay a dividend to shareholders. The company reinvests its profits in growth instead of paying dividends.
What is the risk of Applied Opt stock?
Applied Opt is rated as a stock with extreme risk. the annual standard deviation is 145.6%, which classifies the stock as extreme risk.
Is Applied Opt overvalued?
No, Applied Opt is considered undervalued based on the analyst price target (16.0% upside). Applied Opt has the following valuation ratios: a P/S ratio of 20.3, a P/B ratio of 6.8. The analyst price target suggests that the stock is undervalued by 16.0%.
Is Applied Opt overbought?
No, Applied Opt is not overbought. RSI is at 54.6 (neutral zone). The technical indicators show: RSI is at 54.6 (neutral zone between 30-70), which signals neither overbought nor oversold. In addition, the price is 20.3% above the 20-day average (short-term uptrend). In addition, MACD is negative, but momentum is rising (possible trend reversal).
When is the next Applied Opt earnings report?
Applied Opt reports earnings TODAY, August 6, 2026! The stock currently trades at $129.52. Watch how the price reacts after the release.
Is Applied Opt shorted?
Yes, Applied Opt is shorted with 12.9% of the free float sold short. This is a very high level of short selling, which points to considerable bearish sentiment. A positive earnings report or unexpectedly good news can trigger a short squeeze with sharp price gains. Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Are insiders buying Applied Opt stock?
No, insiders are not buying Applied Opt shares – they are net sellers. Over the last 3 months, insiders have made 0 purchases and 20 sales. On a net basis, 57,369,816 $ worth of shares were sold. Across the last 20 reported transactions, the split is 0 purchases and 20 sales, with a net 57,369,816 $ sold. Active sellers include Yeh Shu-Hua (Joshua), Murry Stefan J., Lin Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) and others. Insider selling can have several explanations (e.g. planned 10b5-1 sales, portfolio diversification or taxes), but sustained selling by several insiders is worth watching closely.
Is Applied Opt a good stock?
Based on our total score, Applied Opt is rated as a disastrous stock with a total score of 16 out of 100. The stock scores very low on value, quality and momentum – it is among the worst in our database. The score is made up of Value: 9/100, Quality: 14/100, Momentum: 24/100. In addition: analysts see 16.0% upside to the price target; technical signal: Hold. Whether Applied Opt is a good investment depends on your time horizon, risk profile and portfolio. This is a data-driven observation, not investment advice.
What is the outlook for Applied Opt stock?
The outlook for Applied Opt based on current data: the average analyst price target is $150.30 (+16.0%); the next earnings report is due on 8/6/2026, which can move the price. Keep in mind that stock prices are affected by many factors, including earnings reports, the economy and market sentiment. Past returns are no guarantee of future returns.
Why is Applied Opt stock rising?
Applied Opt is rising right now. The technical indicators show: the price is 20.3% above the 20-day average; short interest is 12.9% (high – many are betting on a decline); insiders have mostly been selling the stock recently. For the latest context, see our technical analysis, insider section and news overview above.
How high can Applied Opt go?
The average analyst price target for Applied Opt is $150.30, which corresponds to a potential gain of 16.0% from the current price of $129.52. Keep in mind that price targets are estimates, not guarantees. Actual price moves depend on earnings, market conditions and unexpected events.
How low can Applied Opt fall?
We lack enough history to give a specific floor for Applied Opt. Remember: past price swings are no guarantee for the future — a stock can fall further than the last 52 weeks suggest, especially on profit warnings, sector crises or a market crash. Use stop-loss orders and spread your portfolio to limit losses in single stocks.
What does Applied Opt do?
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China. The company offers optical modules, optical filters, lasers, laser components, subassemblies, transmitters and transceivers, t... The company belongs to the Teknologi sector, more specifically the Communication Equipment industry, is headquartered in USA, and is traded on the USA Stocks. See the key figures, earnings history and price development above to evaluate Applied Opt as an investment.
Did Applied Opt raise or lower its guidance?
Over the last 60 days we have not registered a guidance raise or cut from Applied Opt. The company can still adjust its guidance at quarterly reports or between reports — see the earnings history and the news overview above.
Is Applied Opt making money or losing money?
No, Applied Opt is currently not making money — the company is losing money with a negative profit margin of -8.6%, a noticeable loss. That means the business loses money on every dollar of revenue. For growth stocks investing in expansion this is normal — but it raises the risk if the company does not reach break-even before its capital runs out.
Can Applied Opt go bankrupt?
The bankruptcy risk of Applied Opt is rated as low. Altman Z2 (a model for assessing financial distress) is 4.34 — that places the company in the healthy zone. The company has a healthy balance sheet with limited debt relative to earnings and assets. The Piotroski score (financial health 0-9, higher is better) is 2 — which is weak. Debt relative to equity is 139% (moderate). Remember: models like Altman Z2 are statistical — unexpected shocks (fraud, a sector collapse, lawsuits) can always happen. Spread your portfolio.
Does Applied Opt have a lot of debt?
Applied Opt has moderate debt relative to equity. The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E — interest-bearing debt to equity) is 139%. For the teknologi sector, 80-150% counts as a typical level. Note: D/E levels are highly sector-specific — a bank at 300% debt is normal, a tech stock at 300% is extremely leveraged. Always compare with similar companies in the same sector.