Start of mass market VCSEL ramp-up

IQE’s pre-close trading update notes a 16% year-on-year increase in wafer revenues in H117, driven by strong double-digit growth in photonics and currency tailwinds. Importantly, the photonics growth heralds the start of a mass-market ramp up in VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) wafers for consumer applications, encouraging management to proceed with plans to substantially expand capacity ahead of anticipated demand in H218. We make modest upwards revisions to our estimates, noting the potential for further upgrades as there is greater clarity on photonics volumes.