GCT Semiconductor Holding Inc logo

GCT Semiconductor Holding Inc(GCTS)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$1.25
10/29/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for GCTS

10/29/2026: GCTS (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

GCT Semiconductor Holding Inc is a developer of 5G and 4G wireless modem chips, primarily serving the IoT and mobile broadband markets. Its main strength lies in its specialized technical expertise and established intellectual property in wireless communications, which allows it to target specific high-growth niche applications. The primary growth opportunity centers on the global adoption of 5G RedCap technology for IoT. However, the company faces significant risks, including intense competition from large incumbents, capital-intensive operations, and reliance on key customers. It is best suited for growth-oriented investors willing to accept high volatility, and potential investors should monitor product design wins and market adoption rates closely.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitInvestors must be comfortable with high volatility and the long-term nature of scaling a semiconductor company.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock lacks consistent, high-volume upward momentum and is subject to broader market sentiment toward small-cap tech.
Value investorWeak fitCurrent negative earnings and high R&D intensity make traditional value metrics less relevant.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay dividends and focuses all cash on growth.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh inherent risks in the semiconductor sector make this unsuitable for low-risk portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighSmall-cap semiconductor stocks often see sharp price swings based on news and sector trends.
Valuation riskMedium / highFuture growth expectations are already baked into the price, leaving little room for error.
Competition risk (Qualcomm/MediaTek)HighCompeting against massive incumbents with larger budgets and deeper ties to OEMs is a persistent hurdle.
Business qualityMediumThe company has strong technical capabilities but lacks the scale and margins of larger industry peers.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThere is no income generation for shareholders.
Execution riskHighSuccessfully bringing complex 5G chips to market and achieving mass adoption is difficult.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -23.87%
Avg. Invested days 17
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/29/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
GCTS receives a 2-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft company fundamentals, and soft quantitative characteristics.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
GCTS has soft overall fundamentals (2 stars), with weak financial health, weak growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-250.4%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -1154.4%), negative revenue growth (-68.6%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
GCTS's financial health is weak, with the relatively strongest area being soft liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets -432.8%). Operating efficiency is weak (1 stars), which helps explain the 1-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
GCTS's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being free-cash-flow growth at -5.0% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while revenue growth (-68.6%, negative) and earnings growth (-250.4%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 14.6% and approximately 88.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 12.70% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.26%
Renaissance Technologies Corp 1.84%
Marshall Wace Asset Management Ltd 1.41%
BlackRock Inc 1.39%
Tudor Investment Corp Et AL 0.89%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
GCTS generates approximately $-634 of gross profit, $-12,749 of operating income, and $-11,544 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Operating losses and cash burn explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and strong capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -2.12% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
GCTS has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 117.72M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.2
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.2
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares
Beta 1.78
52 Weeks Range 0.95 - 3.93
Updated Date 10/29/2026
52 Weeks Range 0.95 - 3.93
Updated Date 10/29/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.82

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
5G and 4G ChipsetsSale of integrated circuits for mobile, IoT, and fixed wireless devices.The company makes money by selling the core 'brains' that allow devices to connect to wireless networks.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE -
Enterprise Value 142.19M
Price to Sales(TTM) 28.86
Enterprise Value 142.19M
Price to Sales(TTM) 28.86
Enterprise Value to Revenue 34.86
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -21.32
Shares Outstanding 91.97M
Shares Floating 81.53M
Shares Outstanding 91.97M
Shares Floating 81.53M
Percent Insiders 12.7
Percent Institutions 14.58

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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