Optical Supply Chain: What would you buy?

The Semi Doped podcast explores investment opportunities in the optics supply chain, particularly focusing on companies that have seen substantial growth in the past year. Vik and Austin play a game where they evaluate different companies, discussing their business models, competitive advantages (moats), and potential risks. They analyze AXT Inc., a key substrate supplier, Tower Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries, silicon photonics foundries, Lumentum and Coherent, laser manufacturers, Fabrinet, an optical assembly manufacturer, and Corning, a dominant fiber optic cable company. The discussion balances the potential for continued growth in the AI-driven optics sector against risks such as geopolitical factors, competition, and the timing of CPO adoption.