AXT Inc's stock experienced a significant intraday decline of 5.81% on Friday, extending a pullback from recent elevated levels.

The decline is primarily attributed to significant profit-taking pressure, as investors locked in gains following the stock's surge to a 52-week high earlier in the week. This profit-taking activity follows the company's recent report of better-than-expected first-quarter results, which included a swing to gross profit and a substantial revenue increase driven by surging AI optical communication demand.

The move was amplified by broad weakness across the semiconductor equipment sector during the session, with several major peers also trading lower. Ongoing uncertainty regarding the timing of additional export permit approvals for key materials like indium phosphide may have further contributed to investor caution at current price levels.