Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.: what the price is pricing in

There is no current earnings reading for Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.: its latest is from December 31, 2018. Switch lens below to see the other readings and how trading the gap would have done.

No published rating for Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.: valued with our growth model, which doesn't carry a Buy/Hold/Sell rating yet. The readings below run our models backwards for research and show how trading the gap would have done; they are not a valuation or a rating. The valuation page shows the models and their status.

What growth in earnings is the price paying for?

No current reading. The latest is from December 31, 2018: the figures this lens needs have not been filed recently enough (or no longer apply), so there is no position this quarter.

Quarters with a position65 long, 1 short, since June 30, 2016

Beat the S&P 5003 of 650.0% of quarters held

Strategy against the index+303.9%cumulative; worst fall -32.7%

$10,000 became$50,948S&P 500 bought and held: $14,224

Over time

The earnings growth the price-to-earnings ratio requires, against the growth our model assumes. Net income is already after interest, so it is valued at the return shareholders require, plus spare cash (none for banks and insurers, whose cash is funded by deposits and policies), with no debt subtracted.

Growth our model assumes Growth the P/E implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

StrategyS&P 500, buy and hold Hypothetical, before costs. The strategy holds the S&P 500 and only changes on a signal: it switches into AAOI in long quarters and adds a short of AAOI in short quarters. The gap between the lines is what the signal added or lost.

Skill or luck?

In plain English: With only 6 quarters of positions, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.'s own record is too short to tell skill from luck. The results across all companies on the priced-in page are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	5	60.0%	+49.6%	+75.6%	+209.4%	1.49	Too few quarters
Shorts	1	0.0%	−1.6%	−1.6%	−6.2%	—	Too few quarters
All positions	6	50.0%	+41.1%	+37.0%	+153.6%	1.45	Too few quarters

Each position is measured against the S&P 500 over the same quarter: a long earns the stock's return minus the index's, a short the index's minus the stock's. "A year" compounds the per-quarter results. Evidence: strong at a t-statistic of 2 or more, some from 1.5; "worse" when the result is that far below zero; one company's history is a small sample, so read these alongside the results across all companies.

Every quarter (11)

From	Price paid	Growth the P/E implies	Growth our model assumes	Position	AAOI	S&P 500
December 31, 2018	$15.43	5.2%	4.0%	No position	−20.9%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$24.66	-3.8%	6.9%	Long	−37.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$44.90	7.2%	13.0%	No position	−45.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$25.06	-11.0%	13.0%	Long	+79.2%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$37.82	-4.8%	13.0%	Long	−33.7%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$64.67	5.6%	13.0%	No position	−41.5%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$61.79	7.0%	13.0%	No position	+4.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$56.15	13.0%	20.0%	No position	+10.0%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$23.44	4.4%	20.0%	Long	+139.6%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$22.21	29.4%	13.0%	Short	+5.5%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$11.15	-1.8%	13.0%	Long	+99.2%	+3.8%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

Is the price-to-earnings ratio cheap or dear for the growth delivered?

No current reading. The latest is from December 31, 2018: the figures this lens needs have not been filed recently enough (or no longer apply), so there is no position this quarter.

Quarters with a position65 long, 1 short, since September 30, 2017

Beat the S&P 5002 of 633.3% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−70.5%cumulative; worst fall -78.0%

$10,000 became$3,531S&P 500 bought and held: $11,566

Over time

The P/E divided by the earnings-per-share growth delivered over three years. Under 0.75 the market pays little for the growth (long); over 3 it pays a lot (short).

EPS growth, 3 years (%) Price-to-earnings ratio (x) Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	5	20.0%	−16.4%	−32.7%	−70.2%	-0.70	Too few quarters
Shorts	1	100.0%	+34.5%	+34.5%	+226.9%	—	Too few quarters
All positions	6	33.3%	−7.9%	−28.3%	−55.6%	-0.38	Too few quarters

Every quarter (6)

From	Price paid	Price-to-earnings ratio (x)	EPS growth, 3 years (%)	Position	AAOI	S&P 500
December 31, 2018	$15.43	25.1x	2.9%	Short	−20.9%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$24.66	14.1x	52.2%	Long	−37.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$44.90	24.6x	99.3%	Long	−45.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$25.06	9.3x	112.1%	Long	+79.2%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$37.82	12.3x	146.7%	Long	−33.7%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$64.67	21.6x	179.3%	Long	−41.5%	+6.8%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

What profit margin is the price paying for?

The price implies an owner-earnings margin of 42.2%; the company has kept -79.2%.

Market more optimistic than our model: short this quarter

What the price implies What the company delivered

Quarters with a position410 long, 41 short, since June 30, 2016

Beat the S&P 50022 of 4153.7% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−100.0%cumulative; worst fall -100.0%

$10,000 became$0S&P 500 bought and held: $42,848

Over time

The owner-earnings margin (free cash flow after stock pay, as a share of revenue) the price requires at our model's growth, against the margin the company has delivered over three years.

Margin delivered Margin the price implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 41 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 22, by −15.5% a quarter on average. That leans towards losing, though it could still be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
Shorts	41	53.7%	−15.5%	+5.5%	−64.3%	-1.63	Some evidence: worse
All positions	41	53.7%	−15.5%	+5.5%	−64.3%	-1.63	Some evidence: worse

Every quarter (42)

From	Price paid	Margin the price implies	Margin delivered	Position	AAOI	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$99.26	42.2%	-79.2%	Short	−36.7%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$148.16	70.1%	-63.1%	Short	−33.0%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$84.59	42.1%	-55.0%	Short	+75.2%	+15.1%
December 31, 2025	$34.86	17.1%	-47.8%	Short	+142.7%	−4.4%
September 30, 2025	$25.93	13.7%	-42.7%	Short	+34.4%	+2.7%
June 30, 2025	$25.69	14.6%	-32.9%	Short	+0.9%	+8.1%
March 31, 2025	$15.35	12.2%	-24.2%	Short	+67.4%	+10.8%
December 31, 2024	$36.86	46.9%	-18.2%	Short	−58.4%	−4.3%
September 30, 2024	$14.31	19.0%	-15.1%	Short	+157.6%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$8.29	12.0%	-13.9%	Short	+72.6%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$13.86	15.6%	-11.1%	Short	−40.2%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$19.32	19.0%	-13.5%	Short	−28.3%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$10.97	10.8%	-12.4%	Short	+76.1%	+11.6%
June 30, 2023	$5.96	5.0%	-17.1%	Short	+84.1%	−3.2%
March 31, 2023	$2.21	3.9%	-17.8%	Short	+169.7%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$1.89	4.2%	-18.5%	Short	+16.9%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$2.72	4.9%	-18.2%	Short	−30.5%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$1.55	3.7%	-19.9%	Short	+75.5%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$3.65	5.5%	-21.3%	Short	−57.5%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$5.14	6.2%	-25.6%	Short	−29.0%	−4.6%
September 30, 2021	$7.18	6.0%	-28.0%	Short	−28.4%	+11.1%
June 30, 2021	$8.47	5.0%	-26.4%	Short	−15.2%	+0.6%
March 31, 2021	$8.36	5.8%	-25.4%	Short	+1.3%	+8.4%
December 31, 2020	$8.51	6.3%	-21.0%	Short	−1.8%	+6.3%
September 30, 2020	$11.25	9.1%	-20.8%	Short	−24.4%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$10.87	8.4%	-14.2%	Short	+3.5%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$7.59	5.7%	-11.6%	Short	+43.2%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$11.88	7.0%	-8.1%	Short	−36.1%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$11.22	6.1%	-7.2%	Short	+5.9%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$10.28	4.7%	-6.7%	Short	+9.1%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$12.20	5.2%	-6.0%	Short	−15.7%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$15.43	5.8%	-4.8%	Short	−20.9%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$24.66	6.8%	-5.3%	Short	−37.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$44.90	8.1%	-6.4%	Short	−45.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$25.06	4.0%	-7.2%	Short	+79.2%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$37.82	6.2%	-9.3%	Short	−33.7%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$64.67	11.1%	-9.6%	Short	−41.5%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$61.79	12.5%	-18.6%	Short	+4.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$56.15	8.5%	-23.5%	Short	+10.0%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$23.44	4.5%	-29.1%	Short	+139.6%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$22.21	6.5%	-32.2%	Short	+5.5%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$11.15	3.5%	-33.9%	Short	+99.2%	+3.8%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

What return on equity is the price paying for?

The price implies a return on equity of 31.6%; the company earned -5.5%.

Market more optimistic than our model: short this quarter

What the price implies What the company delivered

Quarters with a position372 long, 35 short, since June 30, 2016

Beat the S&P 50019 of 3751.4% of quarters held

Strategy against the index−100.0%cumulative; worst fall -100.0%

$10,000 became$0S&P 500 bought and held: $42,848

Over time

The return on equity that justifies the price-to-book ratio, (P/B)(r − g) + g with an 8.5% required return and 2.5% long-run growth, against the return the company delivered last year.

Return on equity delivered Return on equity the price implies Long quarter Short quarter. Lower panel: the share price at each quarter end, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs (the table below gives the price as traded).

$10,000 trading the gap vs the S&P 500

Skill or luck?

In plain English: Across 37 quarters with a position, this lens beat the S&P 500 in 19, by −15.2% a quarter on average. That could easily be chance. One company is a small sample: the results across all companies are the better guide.

Positions	Quarters	Beat the S&P 500	Average vs S&P 500, a quarter	Typical (median), a quarter	A year	Confidence (t)	Evidence
Longs	2	50.0%	+21.4%	+21.4%	+39.5%	—	Too few quarters
Shorts	35	51.4%	−17.3%	+3.1%	−56.4%	-1.66	Some evidence: worse
All positions	37	51.4%	−15.2%	+3.1%	−53.6%	-1.49	No reliable evidence

Every quarter (42)

From	Price paid	Return on equity the price implies	Return on equity delivered	Position	AAOI	S&P 500
September 30, 2026 (open)	$99.26	31.6%	-5.5%	Short	−36.7%	−0.8%
June 30, 2026	$148.16	63.6%	-6.1%	Short	−33.0%	+2.4%
March 31, 2026	$84.59	51.3%	-7.9%	Short	+75.2%	+15.1%
December 31, 2025	$34.86	26.2%	-40.4%	Short	+142.7%	−4.4%
September 30, 2025	$25.93	23.3%	-50.9%	Short	+34.4%	+2.7%
June 30, 2025	$25.69	27.5%	-68.5%	Short	+0.9%	+8.1%
March 31, 2025	$15.35	21.0%	-84.1%	Short	+67.4%	+10.8%
December 31, 2024	$36.86	46.6%	-41.4%	Short	−58.4%	−4.3%
September 30, 2024	$14.31	20.6%	-41.2%	Short	+157.6%	+2.5%
June 30, 2024	$8.29	12.3%	-34.2%	Short	+72.6%	+5.8%
March 31, 2024	$13.86	16.7%	-28.1%	Short	−40.2%	+4.4%
December 31, 2023	$19.32	23.8%	-33.1%	Short	−28.3%	+10.4%
September 30, 2023	$10.97	14.4%	-36.1%	Short	+76.1%	+11.6%
June 30, 2023	$5.96	8.5%	-32.3%	Short	+84.1%	−3.2%
March 31, 2023	$2.21	4.5%	-30.2%	Short	+169.7%	+8.7%
December 31, 2022	$1.89	4.1%	-26.2%	Short	+16.9%	+7.5%
September 30, 2022	$2.72	4.5%	-24.5%	Short	−30.5%	+7.6%
June 30, 2022	$1.55	3.6%	-21.1%	Short	+75.5%	−4.9%
March 31, 2022	$3.65	4.8%	-20.3%	Short	−57.5%	−16.1%
December 31, 2021	$5.14	5.7%	-20.1%	Short	−29.0%	−4.6%
September 30, 2021	$7.18	6.7%	-17.5%	Short	−28.4%	+11.1%
June 30, 2021	$8.47	7.3%	-21.4%	Short	−15.2%	+0.6%
March 31, 2021	$8.36	6.8%	-21.2%	Short	+1.3%	+8.4%
December 31, 2020	$8.51	6.9%	-17.6%	Short	−1.8%	+6.3%
September 30, 2020	$11.25	8.0%	-17.2%	Short	−24.4%	+12.1%
June 30, 2020	$10.87	7.6%	-14.4%	Short	+3.5%	+9.0%
March 31, 2020	$7.59	5.8%	-11.8%	Short	+43.2%	+20.2%
December 31, 2019	$11.88	7.2%	-12.3%	Short	−36.1%	−19.4%
September 30, 2019	$11.22	6.8%	-10.4%	Short	+5.9%	+9.0%
June 30, 2019	$10.28	6.3%	-4.4%	Short	+9.1%	+1.8%
March 31, 2019	$12.20	6.7%	-0.7%	Short	−15.7%	+4.2%
December 31, 2018	$15.43	7.9%	3.7%	No position	−20.9%	+13.5%
September 30, 2018	$24.66	11.2%	10.8%	No position	−37.4%	−13.5%
June 30, 2018	$44.90	18.2%	11.8%	Short	−45.1%	+7.7%
March 31, 2018	$25.06	11.6%	19.3%	Long	+79.2%	+3.5%
December 31, 2017	$37.82	16.8%	24.5%	Long	−33.7%	−1.0%
September 30, 2017	$64.67	28.2%	25.7%	No position	−41.5%	+6.8%
June 30, 2017	$61.79	28.9%	23.7%	Short	+4.7%	+4.4%
March 31, 2017	$56.15	29.3%	15.9%	Short	+10.0%	+3.1%
December 31, 2016	$23.44	16.3%	11.2%	Short	+139.6%	+5.9%
September 30, 2016	$22.21	16.4%	3.2%	Short	+5.5%	+4.0%
June 30, 2016	$11.15	9.3%	7.2%	No position	+99.2%	+3.8%

Price paid: the closing price that day as traded, before any later share split.

How the test works

At each quarter end since March 2010 we rebuild the models from Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.'s quarters ending at least 90 days earlier (and no more than 200 days before that), using the figures as later filed, including any restatement, and value them at that day's close, adjusted for later share splits and spin-offs so that price and share count are on the same basis. A wide enough gap is a long or a short for one quarter (growth 10 points; margin and return on equity 5 points; a PEG under 0.75 or over 3), measured on total return against the S&P 500. The rules were set before the test. No trading or borrowing costs; today's list of companies. Not investment advice. All companies and the results across them.

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Figures from Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.'s SEC filings (10-K and 10-Q), retrieved October 20, 2026. How we read and check them: methodology and data sources. Not investment advice. Back to Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.