Tower Semiconductor's stock plummeted 5.26% intraday on Friday, as market sentiment was weighed down by persistent concerns over manufacturing yields and profit-taking pressure.

According to market reports, rumors have continued to ferment regarding process parameter deviations at the company's Fab 9 facility during the tape-out of 1.6T silicon photonics chips. Some batches are reportedly showing below-expectation yields, which could potentially affect second-quarter delivery schedules. This unresolved speculation has been a persistent drag on investor confidence in recent sessions.

Additionally, the stock is facing elevated profit-taking pressure after previously surging to a 52-week high, driven by a major $1.3 billion silicon photonics supply contract and multiple analyst upgrades. The stock has now retreated more than 13% from that peak, with accumulated gains continuing to unwind.