New York, Feb 12, 2026, 09:03 EST — Premarket
GlobalFoundries Inc shares rose 2.4% in premarket trading on Thursday, last at $49.91, after closing Wednesday at $48.74. (Public)
The move keeps attention on whether the chipmaker’s push into AI-linked infrastructure can translate into steadier growth, and whether a new buyback can help anchor the stock after a sharp run. Shares climbed 16.3% in the previous session.
GlobalFoundries on Wednesday posted fourth-quarter revenue of $1.83 billion and non-IFRS diluted earnings per share of $0.55, and authorised up to $500 million in share repurchases — a buyback, where a company buys its own stock. Chief executive Tim Breen said the company “grew Non-IFRS gross margin by nearly 400 basis points year-over-year” in the quarter; non-IFRS refers to adjusted figures that exclude certain items such as share-based compensation. (GlobeNewswire)
The company also forecast first-quarter revenue of $1.63 billion, plus or minus $25 million, above analysts’ $1.61 billion estimate, according to LSEG data, and guided for adjusted earnings per share of 35 cents, plus or minus 5 cents. GlobalFoundries said silicon photonics revenue — chips that use pulses of light to move data — doubled to over $200 million last year and is expected to nearly double again this year. (Reuters)
Alongside the earnings bounce, investors are weighing a planned change at the top. A regulatory filing showed president and chief operating officer Niels Anderskouv intends to resign effective March 2, with Breen and other leaders taking on the role’s responsibilities; Breen said Anderskouv’s leadership “helped shape a clear technology roadmap.” (SEC)
Chip shares were also firmer in early indications. The iShares Semiconductor ETF was up about 2.5%, while Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel were higher.
Broker commentary has started to chase the move. Baird analyst Tristan Gerra lifted his price target to $60 from $40 and kept an “Outperform” rating, writing that “silicon photonics, satellite, optical networking” should be key drivers this year, while he pointed to a better pricing environment and higher utilisation supporting margins. (Streetinsider)
But the setup cuts both ways. Foundry demand can swing quickly with customers’ order patterns, and buyback plans can slow if liquidity thins or volatility spikes.
In the next regular session, traders will be watching whether the stock can hold onto the post-results gains and whether management adds detail on the pace of silicon photonics growth and margin expectations, after the surprise move higher.
GlobalFoundries has also scheduled a March 10 investor webinar on silicon photonics and advanced packaging, with executives set to take questions — a near-term date investors will likely circle after this week’s run-up. (GlobeNewswire)
