Why MaxLinear Stock Gained 50.7% Last Month

MaxLinear stock surged 50.7% in September 2026, driven by accelerating demand for optical networking chips used in AI data centers, positive analyst reports, and a rebound from summer lows. The company raised its optical data center revenue outlook to $220 million and holds only 7% market share with plans to triple it. However, the stock trades at a lofty 39x forward earnings with high volatility, presenting both opportunity and risk.