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

3 Stocks Insiders are Buying at New Highs

insider stoks

Insider buying is often a telling sign of future price action and never more so when the shares are up. It’s not uncommon for an insider to buy a stock when it's down simply to show confidence in the business, regardless of risk, but why add money when a stock is rising if you already have skin in the game? Because it can rise higher, which is what we are looking at today—three stocks on the move that can move higher in 2024 that insiders are buying. 

First Citizens BancShares has a Solid Family to Back it Up

First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ: FCNCA) is the holding company for First Citizens Bank, a North Carolina institution that benefited from the 2023 banking collapse. It won the bid for SVB assets, doubling its effective base and amplifying its earnings power. The company was growing at a solid double-digit figure ahead of the acquisition and has been growing at a triple-digit pace since. 

Insider activity has been mixed over the past year with ample selling, but there was a change in Q1 2024. Selling dried up and was replaced by purchases carrying more than average weight. Three insiders made a single purchase, but these three are related. They include CEO Frank B. Holding Jr. and two of his sisters, who collectively own nearly 20% of the company.  

Institutions own about 62% of the bank and are buying on balance in Q1 2024. Significant shareholders include Vanguard and BlackRock, along with numerous private money managers. The analyst community is also bullish on this stock, rating it at Moderate Buy and leading the market with price target revisions. The latest targets have the stock trading near $1800 or about 12% upside from current levels. 

FCNCA stock chart

Compass Diversified Execs Buy at a One-Year High

Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI) share prices rebounded late in 2023 and set a fresh one-year high early in 2024, just before insiders started to buy. Insiders include the CEO, COO and chief of a subsidiary, each making at least one purchase. Insider holdings are relatively small at 2.5% of the stock, but the purchases are noteworthy given the stock price action. 

Institutions own about 50% of the stock, and their activity is also noteworthy. Institutions have been buying this venture capital firm on balance for two years, and activity spiked in Q1 2024 to set a new high. Analysts view the stock as a Moderate Buy and trading at fair value near current levels. 

Compass Diversified pays a solid dividend yielding 4%, so holding isn’t without reward. The payout is 33% of earnings, so reliable with an outlook for possible growth. The company is expected to post mid-single-digit top-line growth this year and next with a widening margin. Cash flow is solid, aiding balance sheet improvements and the dividend. Shareholder equity improved by 11% in 2023 and may rise another double-digit percentage in 2024. 

CODI stock chart

Gates Industrial Corporation Nears Two-Year High

Gates Industrial Corporation (NYSE: GTES) manufactures power transmission components and markets them worldwide. Its insiders are buying the stock even as major holders are selling. Purchases by several directors and the CEO are not enough to offset sales by Blackstone Inc. and Omaha Aggregator, but it doesn’t matter; the price action is moving to new highs anyway. The company is pivoting back to growth and widening margin, attracting the attention of analysts. 

There aren’t many analysts covering this stock, but they are bullish. The nine tracked by Marketbeat.com peg the stock at Moderate Buy and see it trading about 15% higher than where it is today. The consensus sentiment and price target are trending higher and may lead this market to a new three-year high by the end of this calendar year. The freshest target is the highest issued by a major analyst: $21, an all-time high, and a 50% upside.

GTES stock chart

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.