nLIGHT's stock surged 15.12% in the after-hours session following the release of its first-quarter 2026 financial results, which significantly exceeded analyst expectations.

The company reported quarterly revenue of $80.181 million, beating the consensus estimate of $72 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.22, far surpassing the $0.09 estimate. nLIGHT swung to a net income of $645 thousand from a loss in the prior-year period, with adjusted EBITDA soaring to $13.831 million against an estimate of $4.87 million.

Management attributed the strong performance to record growth in its aerospace and defense product revenue, which nearly doubled year-over-year. The company also provided an optimistic outlook for the second quarter, forecasting revenue between $75 million and $81 million, above analyst expectations.