Aehr Test Positions for Growth with AI and Electric Vehicle Focus

Semiconductor testing equipment provider Aehr Test Systems is outlining its strategic roadmap at the Oppenheimer Emerging Growth Conference today. The company is positioning its specialized testing and burn-in solutions to capitalize on two high-growth sectors: artificial intelligence (AI) and electric mobility. This strategic pivot comes despite a softer second-quarter performance, with management projecting a significant business acceleration for the latter half of the fiscal year.

The company's financials for its second fiscal quarter, which concluded on November 28, 2025, reflected a period of transition. Revenue came in at $9.9 million, a figure below the $13.5 million reported for the same period the previous year. This resulted in a net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.11 per share.

However, the outlook presented by management signals a expected turnaround. Aehr Test's effective backlog has grown to $18.3 million as of early January, bolstered by recent order intake. For the second half of the fiscal year ending May 2026, the company has issued a revenue forecast of $25 to $30 million. This projected surge is heavily dependent on anticipated new orders, which are forecast to range between $60 and $80 million in the same period.

Key Financial Metrics:
* Q2 FY2026 Revenue: $9.9 million
* Q2 FY2026 Net Loss: $3.2 million ($0.11 per share)
* Current Backlog: $18.3 million
* H2 FY2026 Revenue Guidance: $25 - $30 million
* Expected H2 FY2026 Order Bookings: $60 - $80 million

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Aehr Test?

Strategic Drivers: AI Accelerators and Advanced Semiconductors

Aehr Test's growth strategy is twofold, targeting specific technological advancements within its core testing expertise.

A primary focus is on the AI hardware market. The company's systems, notably its "Sonoma" platform, are designed to meet the stringent reliability requirements for testing AI accelerators and graphics processing units (GPUs) destined for data center applications. This segment is expected to be a major contributor to the forecasted order growth.

Concurrently, the adoption of wide-bandgap semiconductors is creating another significant opportunity. The rising demand for silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices—critical components for power conversion in electric vehicles and 5G infrastructure—drives the need for specialized wafer-level test and burn-in solutions to ensure long-term durability and performance.

The company's anticipated recovery hinges on the expansion of test capacity for AI processors and the growing integration of silicon photonics technology in modern data centers. The critical question for investors is whether this focused strategy on high-growth sectors can offset the recent disappointing quarterly results and drive sustained financial improvement.