AXT Inc's stock plummeted 8.65% during intraday trading on Wednesday, marking a significant decline for the semiconductor materials company.
The sharp drop follows a period of substantial gains, including a surge of over 16% earlier in the week after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings. Analysts point to significant profit-taking pressure as investors cash in on these recent historic highs, which is a primary driver behind today's sell-off.
Furthermore, the broader Semiconductor Equipment sector showed weakness during the session, with major peers like Lam Research, ASML, and Applied Materials also trading lower. This sector-wide downturn amplified the selling pressure on AXT Inc's stock.