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

3 Value Stocks with Open Questions

HZO Cover Image

Value investing has created more billionaires than any other strategy, like Warren Buffett, who built his fortune by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices. But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.

Identifying genuine bargains from value traps is something many investors struggle with, which is why we started StockStory - to help you find the best companies. Keeping that in mind, here are three value stocks with little support and some other investments you should consider instead.

MarineMax (HZO)

Forward P/E Ratio: 15.8x

Appropriately headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, MarineMax (NYSE: HZO) sells boats, yachts, and other marine products.

Why Does HZO Fall Short?

  1. Ongoing store closures and lackluster same-store sales indicate sluggish demand and a focus on consolidation
  2. Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its product selection and store experience
  3. Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders

MarineMax’s stock price of $25.04 implies a valuation ratio of 15.8x forward P/E. If you’re considering HZO for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Enact Holdings (ACT)

Forward P/B Ratio: 1x

Playing a critical role in helping first-time homebuyers access the housing market, Enact Holdings (NASDAQ: ACT) provides private mortgage insurance that enables lenders to offer home loans with lower down payments while protecting against borrower defaults.

Why Do We Think Twice About ACT?

  1. Net premiums earned expanded by 1.3% annually over the last five years, falling below our expectations for the insurance sector
  2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last two years as its combined ratio increased by 15 percentage points
  3. Annual earnings per share growth of 2.9% underperformed its revenue over the last two years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable

At $35.57 per share, Enact Holdings trades at 1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with ACT, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

Hercules Capital (HTGC)

Forward P/E Ratio: 8.7x

Named after the mythological hero known for his strength, Hercules Capital (NYSE: HTGC) is a business development company that provides debt financing to venture capital-backed and growth-stage technology and life sciences companies.

Why Is HTGC Not Exciting?

  1. Incremental sales over the last two years were less profitable as its 2.1% annual earnings per share growth lagged its revenue gains

Hercules Capital is trading at $17.20 per share, or 8.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including HTGC in your portfolio.

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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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