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.

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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

2 Nasdaq 100 Stocks on Our Watchlist and 1 We Brush Off

DDOG Cover Image

The Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) is known for housing some of the most innovative and fastest-growing companies in the market. But not every stock in the index is a winner - some are struggling with slowing growth, increasing competition, or unsustainable valuations.

With rapid innovation comes rapid change, and StockStory is here to help you identify which Nasdaq 100 stocks are still worth your money. That said, here are two Nasdaq 100 stocks driving the future of tech and one that may face some trouble.

One Stock to Sell:

Gilead Sciences (GILD)

Market Cap: $137.7 billion

From its groundbreaking work in developing the first single-tablet regimens for HIV treatment, Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) develops and markets innovative medicines for life-threatening diseases including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer.

Why Do We Think Twice About GILD?

  1. Sizable revenue base leads to growth challenges as its 2.7% annual revenue increases over the last two years fell short of other healthcare companies
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 2.3% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
  3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

At $111.34 per share, Gilead Sciences trades at 13.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with GILD, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Two Stocks to Watch:

Datadog (DDOG)

Market Cap: $49.66 billion

Named after a database the founders had to painstakingly look after at their previous company, Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) provides a software platform that helps organizations monitor and secure their cloud applications, infrastructure, and services.

Why Will DDOG Beat the Market?

  1. Customers view its software as mission-critical to their operations as its ARR has averaged 26% growth over the last year
  2. Fast payback periods on sales and marketing expenses allow the company to invest heavily and onboard many customers concurrently
  3. DDOG is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders

Datadog’s stock price of $142.87 implies a valuation ratio of 14.1x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Atlassian (TEAM)

Market Cap: $41.89 billion

Started by two Australian university friends who funded their startup with credit cards, Atlassian (NASDAQ: TEAM) provides software tools that help teams plan, track, collaborate, and share knowledge across organizations.

Why Do We Like TEAM?

  1. Impressive 21.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share
  2. Software is difficult to replicate at scale and results in a stellar gross margin of 82.8%
  3. Well-designed software integrates seamlessly with other workflows, enabling swift payback periods on marketing expenses and customer growth at scale

Atlassian is trading at $159.51 per share, or 6.8x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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