By Ozan Ergenay

(Reuters) - German chip systems manufacturer Aixtron raised its revenue guidance for 2026 on ‌Tuesday, propelled by strong demand for optoelectronics equipment, which ‌sent its shares to an over two-year high on Wednesday.

Aixtron expects annual ​revenue of around 560 million euros ($660 million), plus or minus 30 million euros, having previously forecast it at 520 million euros with the same range of potential variation.

"The significantly stronger-than-expected ‌demand from the optoelectronics ⁠sector in the first quarter is a very encouraging development," CEO Felix Grawert said in ⁠a statement, adding the company expected this trend to continue.

Aixtron's shares, which have gained nearly 130% so far in 2026, rose ​13% ​and were leading gains on ​Europe's benchmark Stoxx 600 index ‌in early trading.

Analysts from J.P. Morgan highlighted strong quarterly orders on the back of the positive momentum in optoelectronics—a semiconductor technology used in light-related applications like LEDs, lasers and solar cells.

"Given upgrades to near-term estimates and clearly positive order ‌commentary, we expect to see Aixtron ​shares to outperform in response," the ​analysts said in ​a note to investors.

Aixtron's order intake grew 30% ‌from a year ago to ​around 171 million ​euros in the first quarter.

The world's largest supplier of chipmaking tools, ASML, also reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and ​lifted its full-year ‌outlook on Wednesday, as artificial intelligence boosts demand for ​its equipment.

($1 = 0.8480 euros)

(Reporting by Ozan Ergenay in ​Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

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