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

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.

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

Cathie Wood Is Buying These Stocks, Should You?

Cathie Wood Is Buying These Stocks, Should You?

Cathie Wood is an American investor best known as the founder, CEO, and CIO of ARK Investment Management, a firm specializing in actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Wood began her career as an analyst on Wall Street and later moved to institutional investment management. She is renowned for her focus on disruptive technology, as well as her aggressive portfolio management strategies.

The firm's flagship fund, the ARK Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA: ARKK), has been one of the best-performing ETFs since its inception. The fund, however, is down 52.54 percent over the past year and up 79.10% since its inception in 2014.

So let's peel back the curtain on some of Wood's holdings.

Exact Sciences Corp

Exact Sciences Corp (NASDAQ: EXAS) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of some of the most lethal forms of cancer. The company is best known for its Cologuard test, a non-invasive colon cancer screening test, and Oncotype DX breast cancer test. Arkk has been a major shareholder in Exact Sciences Corp since 2014 and owns around 9.99 million shares.

The company is also Ark's largest portfolio holding, making up 9.74% of its holdings. Investors might be happy to know that Exact's selected revenue figures came in above the results it posted last year. Revenue excluding COVID-19 testing increased by 28% year over year, and the company expects to reach EBITDA profitability by Q4'22 and throughout FY2023.

The company is trading at overvalued levels per the MarketBeat consensus price target. Analysts predict that the company's stock price will contract by 9.4%, partly due to its sharp share price appreciation. Other bearish factors include a short interest ratio of 6.47% and $60,000 shares being sold by company insiders last quarter.

Zoom

Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ: ZM) is a leading provider of cloud-based video communications services. It is one of the key players in the fast-growing online video conferencing industry and is currently valued at over $20 billion. The company was founded in 2011 and has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular video conferencing solutions. 

Ark is one of the largest shareholders of Zoom. According to the latest filings from Ark, the fund currently holds a 4.34% stake in the company. Furthermore, Zoom makes up 8.51% of Zoom's portfolio.

The fund's investment in Zoom provides them with an opportunity to capitalize on the growth of its industry and build a long-term position in a company well-positioned to benefit from the ongoing shift to remote work, despite the pandemic losing steam.

According to analysts, Zoom's share could also be snapped up at a relative bargain. It's currently trading 51.6% below the MarketBeat consensus price target. However, its EPS is also expected to contract a massive 40.63% from $1.28 to $0.76 per share.

Tesla

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is Ark's third-largest portfolio holding. It constitutes around 6.95% of Ark's portfolio value and has caused controversy for Cathie Wood.

Critics of the move have argued that such a large investment in a single company is too risky for a fund that has been around for only a few years. Furthermore, they point out that Tesla is a volatile stock prone to wide price swings, making it a risky bet.

Tesla's stock price is currently down 62.01% over the past year, severely curbing its previously meteoric price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, thus undervalued on a relative basis.

Tesla has made significant strides in developing its electric vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular. Its Model 3 has become the best-selling luxury car in the USA and is being embraced by people worldwide. The company has also been making significant investments in autonomous driving technology, which could be a major growth driver in the coming years.

According to analysts, the situation for Tesla could be in the process of improving. It's currently 70.4% below the MarketBeat consensus price target , and its EPS has a projected earnings growth of 27.78%. That reflects an appreciation from $3.60 to $4.60 per share.

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.