JENA (dpa-AFX) - Driven by the AI-fueled demand in the semiconductor industry, technology group Jenoptik saw a strong performance in the first quarter. 'Since the beginning of the year, we have seen very dynamic demand in our OEM businesses, particularly from the semiconductor equipment industry,' CFO Prisca Havranek-Kosicek stated on Tuesday during the presentation of the financial results. Although this high momentum is not expected to continue at the same pace, she noted that the foundation for a successful 2026 is solid. Annual targets were confirmed. In early trading, the shares reached a record high of nearly 42 euros, leading the MDax.

The stock was recently up nearly 10 percent at 39.90 euros, meaning the share price has more than doubled since the turn of the year. With order intake 30 percent above market expectations, the group has made a strong start to 2026, wrote analyst Henrik Paganetty of investment house Jefferies. In the three months ending in March, order intake climbed by approximately three-quarters year-on-year to nearly 357 million euros.

Meanwhile, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose by 22.5 percent to 44.4 million euros. The corresponding margin increased from 14.9 to 18.4 percent. In addition to an improved product mix and the absence of one-off relocation costs to the new plant in Dresden, Saxony, cost savings also contributed to the earnings growth.

In contrast, revenue for the Thuringia-based company declined slightly compared to the prior-year period, coming in at 241.2 million euros. The group performed better than analysts had expected in terms of both revenue and operating profit. Bottom-line profit amounted to 16.8 million euros, an increase of over 80 percent.

For the current year, the Executive Board continues to expect revenue growth in the single-digit percentage range. The operating margin (EBITDA) is projected to be between 19 and 21 percent. In 2025, revenue stood at nearly 1.05 billion euros with a margin of 18.4 percent. The company anticipates growth in its core markets of semiconductors, medical technology, metrology, and smart mobility.

The company, which emerged from the Carl Zeiss Group and employs around 4,000 people worldwide, is one of the few listed technology companies in eastern Germany. Its core business includes optical systems, lasers, and metrology for industrial applications, as well as lasers and equipment for traffic monitoring./mne/stk