Insider Trading May 14, 2026 09:22 PM

Director William Bendush Sells Cohu Shares Amid Strong AI Sector Momentum

Reported transaction follows Q1 earnings and positive analyst upgrades, highlighting company growth in high-performance computing.

By Maya Rios COHU

Cohu director William Bendush sold a substantial number of shares through an established 10b5-1 plan. This transaction occurs as the company reports strong forward guidance for revenue and sees multiple analysts raising their price targets due to increased demand in AI compute and high-performance computing.

Director William Bendush Sells Cohu Shares Amid Strong AI Sector Momentum
COHU

Key Points

  • Significant institutional director selling occurred through a 10b5-1 plan structure.
  • Cohu reported exceeding Q1 revenue expectations and securing substantial orders for its AI-related testing platform (DiamondX).
  • Multiple investment banks raised their price targets following the earnings report, citing strong growth in AI compute and high-performance computing.

William Bendush, who serves as a director at Cohu Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU), completed a significant sale of company stock. On May 13, 2026, Mr. Bendush sold 7,500 shares of Cohu's common stock. The total value realized from this transaction was $368,550. This disposal was executed indirectly via the Bendush Living Trust.

Details concerning the sale indicate that the shares were acquired at varying price points, ranging between $48.41 and $50.28. The reported weighted average selling price for these shares settled at $49.14 per share. Crucially, this entire transaction was conducted in accordance with a 10b5-1(c) plan, which had been initially adopted on May 23, 2025.

The timing of the sale is notable given the current market context for Cohu. The company's stock has recently traded near its 52-week high of $52.43, following a substantial appreciation of 175% over the past year. Despite this upward trajectory, an analysis from InvestingPro suggests that the stock may currently appear overvalued when compared to its calculated Fair Value.


Financial Status and Corporate Activity

Following the sale of these shares, Mr. Bendush's indirect holding in Cohu common stock was recorded at 24,780 shares. In addition to his indirect ownership, he maintains a direct stake consisting of 10,257 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). These RSUs are structured to convert into shares of Cohu common stock on a one-for-one basis immediately upon their vesting date, contingent upon the continued service of Mr. Bendush on the Board of Directors.

Recent corporate reporting from Cohu Inc. provides insight into its operational performance and future outlook. For the first quarter of 2026, the company reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.01. This figure fell short of the analyst consensus forecast of $0.03.

However, in a contrasting development, Cohu surpassed revenue expectations for the same period, reporting $125.1 million against a forecasted amount of $122.07 million. Furthermore, the company secured orders totaling approximately $5 million for its DiamondX testing platform. This specialized platform is intended for use with gallium nitride power devices within AI data center power architectures.


Analyst Response and Future Guidance

The market reaction to these developments has been largely positive, particularly among industry analysts. Stifel, Needham, and Jefferies have all raised their price targets for Cohu. These firms cited the ongoing growth within AI compute and the broader high-performance computing sector as key drivers. Specifically, Stifel increased its target price to $50. Needham adjusted its target to $54, while Jefferies set a higher target of $60. All three institutions maintained a 'Buy' rating on the stock.

Looking ahead, Cohu provided optimistic guidance for subsequent quarters. The company projected second-quarter 2026 revenue of $144 million, which represents a sequential increase of 15%. Moreover, the outlook for the second half of 2026 remains robust, with expectations pointing toward 20% to 25% year-over-year growth for calendar year 2026. Jefferies noted that these forward projections reflect both a broadening compute pipeline and expanding Eclipse momentum.

The current trading data shows Cohu's stock price near $48.96, reflecting recent market activity.

Risks

  • The company's reported Q1 2026 Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $0.01 fell below the consensus forecast of $0.03.
  • Despite positive revenue guidance, an analysis from InvestingPro suggests that the stock may be overvalued relative to its Fair Value.
  • The sale of shares by a director, while structured through a 10b5-1 plan, occurs when the stock is near its historical high.

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