Group 1 - The optical communication sector showed mixed performance on Friday, with Lumentum (LITE.US) rising over 3% and Coherent (COHR.US) increasing by more than 4% [1] - Credo Technology (CRDO.US) experienced a decline of nearly 2%, while Lumen Technologies (LUMN.US) and Astera Labs (ALAB.US) both fell by over 1% [1]

Group 1 - Tradr ETFs has launched three new leveraged ETFs that aim to provide two times the inverse (-200%) or two times long (200%) daily performance of specific underlying stocks, marking them as first-to-market strategies [1][2] - The newly launched ETFs include Tradr 2X Short CLSK Daily ETF (Cboe: CLSZ) tracking CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ: CLSK), Tradr 2X Long LEU Daily ETF (Cboe: LEUX) tracking Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE: LEU), and Tradr 2X Long COHR Daily ETF (Cboe: COHX) tracking Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR) [6] - Tradr's total lineup of 69 leveraged ETFs manages over $2 billion in assets, providing sophisticated investors with innovative trading tools that enhance market view expression [2][4] Group 2 - The launch of CLSZ complements the previously launched CLSX, a two-times leveraged long strategy on CleanSpark, which has been positively received by traders [2] - Tradr ETFs are designed for sophisticated investors and professional traders, focusing on high conviction investment views through leveraged and inverse ETFs [4]

Core Viewpoint - Coherent Corp. will host a Technology Innovation Briefing at the 2026 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition, showcasing its leadership in photonics and innovation in the industry [1][2]. Event Details - The Technology Innovation Briefing is scheduled for March 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel [2]. - The event will include presentations and a Q&A session featuring key executives: CEO Jim Anderson, CTO Dr. Julie Eng, EVP Semiconductor Devices Dr. Beck Mason, and CMO Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi [2]. Presentation Format - Presentations will be delivered both in person and via live webcast, with the archived version available later the same day on Coherent's Investor Relations website [3]. Company Overview - Coherent is recognized as a global leader in photonics, providing technology solutions for datacenter, communications, and industrial markets [4]. - Established in 1971, Coherent operates in over 20 countries and offers a comprehensive technology stack and resilient supply chain to address complex technology challenges [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the author's experiences and insights related to investing in optical and laser companies, specifically mentioning Lumentum Holdings and Ciena, while emphasizing a personal background in engineering and a focus on technology stocks [1]. Group 1 - The author has written about several optical and laser companies, including Lumentum Holdings and Ciena, indicating a sustained interest in this sector [1]. - The author has a background as a Merchant Seaman and has developed a strong interest in investing over the last 15 years, learning from various sources [1]. - The author expresses a preference for technology stocks due to an engineering background, suggesting a technical perspective on investment choices [1].

Core Insights - Carillon Tower Advisers reported that small-cap stocks had marginal gains in Q4 2025, with the Russell 2000 Growth Index returning 13.01% and the Russell 2000 Value Index gaining 12.58% [1] - The firm anticipates a favorable year ahead for equity markets, highlighting potential opportunities in sectors such as Cyclicals, Healthcare, Information Technology, Financials, and Consumer spending as they approach 2026 [1] Company Insights - Coherent Corp. (NYSE:COHR) closed at $219.96 per share on February 17, 2026, with a one-month return of 9.18% and a 12-month increase of 154.64%, giving it a market capitalization of $41.23 billion [2] - Coherent Corp. experienced a rise in shares due to strong earnings results and a positive outlook, driven by demand for transceivers used in AI data centers and telecommunications [3] - The company is expected to benefit from a transition to products that enable faster throughput speeds, with previous manufacturing capacity constraints easing [3] Hedge Fund Activity - Coherent Corp. was held by 78 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2025, an increase from 66 in the previous quarter [4] - While Coherent Corp. shows potential as an investment, the company is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, and certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

All three strategies represent first-to-market exposures on growth namesNEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tradr ETFs, a provider of ETFs designed for sophisticated investors and professional traders, announced that it expects to launch three first-to-market single stock leveraged ETFs on Thursday, February 19. The Cboe-listed funds seek to deliver either two times the inverse (-200%) or two times long (200%) the daily performance of a specific underlying stock.Expected Tradr launches:Tradr 2X Short CL ...

Core Insights - Coherent Corp. is participating in the Optica Executive Forum at OFC 2026, focusing on advancements in optical networking and communications [1][5] - The company's executives will engage in discussions about the evolving role of optics in next-generation networks and AI-driven infrastructure [2][5] Executive Participation - CEO Jim Anderson will be a panelist on the CEO Panel, discussing the role of optics in future networks [2] - CTO Dr. Julie Eng will participate in a fireside chat, sharing insights on Coherent's technology roadmap and innovation priorities [3] - CMO Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi will moderate a session on scale-out datacenter networks, while VP Vipul Bhatt will discuss optical interconnects [4] Industry Context - The Optica Executive Forum serves as a key venue for industry dialogue on optical networking, highlighting the importance of collaboration in navigating rapid advancements in photonics and AI [5] - Coherent's involvement emphasizes its commitment to photonics innovation and collaboration within the ecosystem [5] Company Overview - Coherent is a global leader in photonics, founded in 1971, operating in over 20 countries, and providing a comprehensive technology stack for various industries [6]

Core Viewpoint - Coherent (COHR) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook that may lead to increased stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Rising earnings estimates for Coherent suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely resulting in upward pressure on its stock price [5][10]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. Coherent's Earnings Estimates - Coherent is expected to earn $5.38 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2026, with no year-over-year change [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coherent has increased by 10.1% [8].

Core Insights - Coherent Corp. has received awards for six of its products in the 2026 Lightwave Innovation Reviews, maintaining its leadership in optical networking innovation [1][2] Product Recognition - The 100G ZR QSFP28 DCO transceiver was recognized for its low latency variation, enabling precise time synchronization across various applications [3] - The 140 Gbaud IC-TROSA Extended C-Band supports ultra-fast symbol rates and lower power dissipation, enhancing next-generation 800G digital coherent optics [4] - 2D VCSEL Arrays for Optical Interconnects provide energy-efficient solutions for short-reach applications, delivering high bandwidth density and scalability [5] - The WaveAnalyzer™ 200B Portable Optical Spectrum Analyzer offers high-resolution spectral analysis in a compact form, facilitating rapid deployment and maintenance of optical networks [6] - The Flexgrid Octa C+L Dense Gain Equalizer enables dynamic optical power management, optimizing performance in flexible-grid DWDM networks [7] - The Multiport High-Resolution Optical Channel Monitor is designed for AI-driven data center interconnects, featuring ultra-fast scanning and high accuracy [8] Company Overview - Coherent is a global leader in photonics, providing technology solutions for the datacenter, communications, and industrial markets [10]

Core Insights - The article discusses the trend of investment in AI infrastructure, highlighting that funding often follows specific constraints, starting with GPUs, then custom silicon, and currently focusing on memory technology [1] Group 1: Investment Trends - Investment in AI infrastructure is evolving, with a historical focus on GPUs, followed by custom silicon, and now shifting towards addressing the memory wall [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - The author is a finance student at St. John's University, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Finance and plans to obtain a CFA certification, aiming to become an equity analyst focused on innovation-driven sectors such as tech, semiconductors, and biotech [1]