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.

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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

3 Inflated Stocks with Questionable Fundamentals

PENG Cover Image

Exciting developments are taking place for the stocks in this article. They’ve all surged ahead of the broader market over the last month as catalysts such as new products and positive media coverage have propelled their returns.

But not every company with momentum is a long-term winner, and plenty of investors have lost money betting on short-term fads. On that note, here are three overhyped stocks that may correct and some you should consider instead.

Penguin Solutions (PENG)

One-Month Return: -16.6%

Based in the US, Penguin Solutions (NASDAQ: PENG) is a diversified semiconductor company offering memory, digital, and LED products.

Why Do We Pass on PENG?

  1. 4% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its semiconductor peers
  2. Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 29.1%
  3. ROIC of 4.8% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

At $21.39 per share, Penguin Solutions trades at 10.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why PENG doesn’t pass our bar.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)

One-Month Return: +41.1%

Formed from the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a multinational media and entertainment company, offering television networks, streaming services, and film and television production.

Why Should You Sell WBD?

  1. Sales tumbled by 4.2% annually over the last two years, showing consumer trends are working against its favor
  2. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 30.9% annually
  3. Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value

Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock price of $17.70 implies a valuation ratio of 5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering WBD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

MasTec (MTZ)

One-Month Return: +7.4%

Involved in the 1996 Olympic Games MasTec (NYSE: MTZ) is an infrastructure construction company that specializes in the telecommunications, energy, and utility industries.

Why Does MTZ Fall Short?

  1. Gross margin of 13.1% reflects its high production costs
  2. Growth came at the expense of profits over the last five years as its substandard operating margin deteriorated even further
  3. 3.8 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

MasTec is trading at $204.25 per share, or 29.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than MTZ.

Stocks We Like More

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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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