Northcoast analyst Tom Hayes is keeping his Neutral rating on Laser names IPG Photonics (IPGP), Coherent (COHR), and nLIGHT (LASR) as part of his research note on the sector highlighting the findings of his December Laser Industry survey. The analyst states that although the respondents are more optimistic, they continue to see international market activity as choppy with limited visibility. Hayes further cites the respondents' concerns over "geopolitical issues, tough comps and pricing", with the second half of 2018 and early look at 2019 indicating continued headwinds but at a "slightly more muted tone".