Coherent CFO Sherri Luther Sells 3,000 Shares
Key Points
The transaction was valued at $972,000.
The sale reduced the Chief Financial Officer's direct equity holdings by 4%.
All transacted shares were held directly; the filing reported no indirect holdings through trusts or other entities.
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Sherri R. Luther, Chief Financial Officer of Coherent (NYSE:COHR), sold 3,000 shares of common stock on Aug. 18, 2026, as disclosed in a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Transaction value | $972,000 |
| Shares sold | 3,000 |
| Post-transaction shares (directly held) | 64,475 |
| Post-transaction value | $19.7 million |
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($324); post-transaction value based on Aug. 18, 2026, market close ($306.43).
Key questions
- What was the regulatory basis for this transaction?
The sale was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Luther on Nov. 13, 2025, which allows corporate insiders to schedule equity transactions in advance to mitigate concerns regarding non-public information. - How does the stock's recent performance compare to the transaction price?
The 3,000 shares were sold at $324 per share, with Coherent shares having delivered a 239% total return over the 12 months ending on the transaction date of Aug. 18, 2026. - What is the scale of the insider's remaining equity position?
Following the sale, the CFO retains direct ownership of 64,475 shares, which carried a market value of $19.7 million. - Are there other forms of beneficial ownership beyond common stock?
The filing indicates that the reporting person's equity exposure is primarily composed of direct holdings, with no reported indirect interests in family trusts or other investment vehicles at the time of this transaction.
Company Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Share Price (as of market close 2026-08-19) | $287.47 |
| Market Capitalization | $51.7 billion |
| Revenue (TTM) | $7.1 billion |
| Net Income (TTM) | $769.9 million |
Company Snapshot
- Coherent specializes in advanced laser technologies, offering a comprehensive portfolio of lasers, laser-based solutions, and integrated systems deployed across commercial, industrial, and scientific research applications.
- The company operates through two primary business segments: laser sources for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and industrial lasers with integrated systems, generating revenue through both direct sales and OEM partnerships.
- Coherent serves a diverse customer base, including industrial manufacturers, semiconductor equipment producers, scientific research institutions, and commercial enterprises requiring precision laser solutions.
Coherent is a leading provider of advanced laser technologies, with a market capitalization of $51.7 billion and TTM revenue of $7.1 billion, reflecting substantial scale in the hardware and equipment sector. The company's dual-segment business model provides diversified revenue streams and positions Coherent at the intersection of critical technology trends in manufacturing, semiconductors, and scientific innovation. With a workforce of 51,478 employees and demonstrated operational profitability (TTM net income of $769.9 million), Coherent maintains a competitive advantage through its vertically integrated approach to laser technology development and its established relationships across key industrial verticals.
What this transaction means for investors
When a shareholder hears that an executive sells 3,000 shares for nearly $1 million, it can sound alarming. But digging into this transaction a bit, there doesn't seem to be anything indicating this sale represents something that may be amiss with Coherent. That's because this falls under a trading plan established in November 2025, so it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. In addition, while Luther sold 3,000 shares, she still holds a significant stake with 64,475 shares. In addition, even if this sale hadn't occurred under an established trading plan, it would have still made sense for the insider to sell and take some profits off the table. Over the last 12 months, the Coherent stock price has climbed 176.5% as of this writing. In comparison, the S&P 500 is up 19.1% over the same period.
Despite the massive run-up in the stock price, analysts remain generally bullish on the company's outlook over the next year. According to CNN, of the 28 analysts cover Coherent, 79% rate it a buy, 18% a hold, and 4% a sell. From that group of 28 analysts, the median one-year price target is $420, representing a 58.8% gain from today's price. The most bullish price target from the group is $500, representing a potential gain of 89.1%. And even the group's lowest price target, $280, still represents a potential gain of 5.9%.
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Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Coherent. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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