nLIGHT's stock soared 24.94% during intraday trading on Friday, driven by the company's release of first-quarter financial results that significantly exceeded analyst expectations.

The laser manufacturer reported a swing to profitability with net income of $645,000, compared to a loss in the prior-year period. Revenue jumped 55% to $80.2 million, substantially beating estimates, driven by a nearly 70% surge in aerospace and defense revenue. Adjusted earnings per share of 20 cents also far surpassed Wall Street forecasts.

Furthermore, the company provided an optimistic outlook for the current quarter, guiding for revenue between $75 million and $81 million, which is above analyst expectations. CEO Scott Keeney cited a strong pipeline of directed-energy opportunities as positioning the company for continued growth.