AXT Sees Surge in Options Trading Activity

Insider sales also reported as semiconductor company's stock price rises

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:51am

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AXT Inc., a semiconductor materials supplier, saw a significant increase in call options trading on Thursday, with a 92% jump in volume compared to the average. The company also reported insider sales of company stock by the CEO and a director. AXT's stock price has risen sharply in recent months.

Why it matters

The spike in options activity and insider sales could signal growing investor interest and confidence in AXT's business prospects, as the company's materials are critical for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices used in various industries. However, the insider sales also raise questions about the company's future outlook from the perspective of company leadership.

The details

On Thursday, traders bought 15,725 call options on AXT stock, a 92% increase from the average volume of 8,190 call options. In related news, AXT Director Jesse Chen sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock on March 11th at an average price of $47.13, while CEO Morris S. Young sold 159,536 shares on March 2nd at an average price of $43.32. These insider transactions represent decreases of 10.82% and 6.04% in their respective ownership stakes.

  • On March 11, 2026, Director Jesse Chen sold 15,000 shares of AXT stock.
  • On March 2, 2026, CEO Morris S. Young sold 159,536 shares of AXT stock.

The players

Jesse Chen

A director at AXT Inc., a semiconductor materials supplier.

Morris S. Young

The CEO of AXT Inc., a semiconductor materials supplier.

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What they’re saying

“This trade represents a 10.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock.”

— Jesse Chen, Director

“This trade represents a 6.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock.”

— Morris S. Young, CEO

The takeaway

The surge in options trading activity and insider sales at AXT suggest growing investor interest in the semiconductor materials supplier, but also raise questions about the company's future outlook from the perspective of its leadership. Analysts will likely be closely monitoring AXT's performance and any further developments related to insider transactions.