THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 16 APRIL 2014 ON MARKET ABUSE (MARKET ABUSE REGULATION) AS RETAINED AS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 AS AMENDED.

 

Cardiff, UK
21 July 2026

Trading Update

  • H1 performance ahead of expectations, driven by InP demand for AI and data centre applications
  • Uplift in FY 2026 revenue guidance to in excess of 30% growth year-on-year

IQE plc (AIM: IQE, "IQE" or the "Group"), the leading global supplier of compound semiconductor wafer products and advanced material solutions, today provides a trading update for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

Trading in H1 2026 exceeded management expectations with strong demand across all of the Group’s core segments, which is expected to result in first half revenue of at least £64m. 

Demand for IQE’s Indium Phosphide (InP) solutions is continuing to accelerate due to their critical role in enabling optical photonics products for data centres and AI infrastructure. Revenue growth was also supported by ongoing strength in aerospace and defence segments, as well as robust demand for both 3D sensing and wireless products.

This momentum is expected to continue throughout 2026, and as a result IQE now expects FY 2026 revenue growth in excess of 30% year-on-year, resulting in low-teens £m adjusted EBITDA. 

The Group remains bank-debt free with a cash position as at 30 June 2026 of £41.6m.

Jutta Meier, Chief Executive Officer of IQE, commented:

“I am very pleased that H1 trading exceeded our expectations. Our long-established leadership in InP and other key material systems means we are critically embedded in supply chains enabling industry trends that will continue to deliver further progress in H2. I remain extremely excited about the significant opportunities ahead for the transformed IQE, and look forward to sharing our continued progress.” 

 

Contacts:

IQE plc
+44 (0) 29 2083 9400
Jutta Meier
Mark Cubitt
Amy Barlow

Peel Hunt (Nomad and Joint Broker)
+44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Ben Cryer
Kate Bannatyne
Adam Telling

Deutsche Numis (Joint Broker)
+44 (0) 20 7260 1000
Hugo Rubinstein
Iqra Amin

Headland Consultancy (Financial PR) 
+ 44 (0) 20 38054822
Andy Rivett-Carnac: +44 (0) 7968 997 365
Chloe Francklin: +44 (0)78 3497 4624
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Jutta Meier, CEO.

ABOUT IQE

http://iqep.com

 

IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced compound semiconductor wafers and materials solutions that enable a diverse range of applications across:

  • Smart Connected Devices
  • Communications Infrastructure
  • Automotive and Industrial
  • Aerospace and Security 

As a scaled global epitaxy wafer manufacturer, IQE is uniquely positioned in this market which has high barriers to entry. IQE supplies the global market and is enabling customers to innovate at chip and OEM level. By leveraging the Group’s intellectual property portfolio including know-how and patents, it produces epitaxy wafers of superior quality, yield and unit economics.

IQE is headquartered in Cardiff UK, with employees across manufacturing locations in the UK, US and Taiwan, and is listed on the AIM Stock Exchange in London.