About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Best’s Special Report: Secondary Perils Continue to Spike Insurer Loss Ratios, Even in Less Catastrophe-Prone States

By: via Business Wire

AM Best data shows that nearly half of all U.S. states saw its highest single-year property catastrophe loss ratio in the last 10 years exceed its 10-year median loss ratio by more than 20 percentage points. While many of these states are prone to catastrophe losses, according to a new AM Best report, the rising frequency of secondary perils in states considered to be less-catastrophe prone have led insurers to ramp up reassessments of their pricing models, underwriting strategies and risk management approaches.

Secondary perils have become a major cause of loss in the past five years for U.S. property/casualty insurers with property catastrophe-exposed lines of business, highlighted by the January wildfires in California. In its Best’s Special Report, “US Weather Event Risks Highlight Need for Stress Testing,” AM Best states that insurers will need to stress test for these threats regularly as risk profiles evolve. Stress tests are conducted and factored in AM Best’s credit rating process, as part of the balance sheet and enterprise risk management assessments.

“Stress testing should consider risk appetite and tolerance, as well as net exposure, the impact from multiple events, liquidity and reinsurance structure and dependence,” said Jason Hopper, associate director, Industry Research and Analytics. “Understanding true exposures and considering all plausible scenarios is important. With the availability of aggregate reinsurance protection limited, some carriers have been severely impacted by the aggregation effects of multiple, smaller events.”

The report notes that there were 27 one-billion-dollar weather events in 2024, and 28 in 2023 (despite there being no NOAA-named hurricane), compared with an average of 15 events in 2010-2022. While national insurers have accounted for an overwhelming majority of direct losses paid, single-state and regional companies tend to have a greater share of claims compared with their premiums in some states, with Kentucky being the highest in 2023 at nearly 25% of direct losses paid in the state while having 18% in market share based on direct premiums. The greater share of claims than premiums indicates higher concentration risk for these carriers.

“Market disruptions continue as some of the national carriers curb their risk appetites, creating opportunities for single-state and regional writers,” said Jacob Conner, associate analyst, AM Best. “However, the operating loss-drag on capital and surplus over the last 10 years has been worse for single-state and regional writers in catastrophe-prone states, and so stress testing helps companies determine the strength of the balance sheet and ability to absorb shocks.”

To access the full copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=353292.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The rising frequency of secondary perils in states considered to be less-catastrophe prone have led insurers to ramp up reassessments of their pricing models, underwriting strategies and risk management approaches.

Contacts

More News

View More
Why Amazon’s Prime Day May Be the Catalyst for a Year-End Rally
Via MarketBeat
Tickers AMZN
Let the Good Times Roll: 2 Stocks Showing No Signs of Slowing
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers ATRO INOD META
Café Culture Revival? 3 Stocks to Watch After Chick-fil-A’s Move
Via MarketBeat
Tickers CMG MCD SBUX YUM
Carmakers Step in With Incentives as EV Tax Credit Expires
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy Government
Tickers F GM TSLA
Buy the Dip? Zillow’s Profit Comeback Meets Market Pressure
Via MarketBeat
Topics Lawsuit
Tickers ZG
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.