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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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 Cash-Heavy Stocks Worth Investigating

NET Cover Image

Companies with more cash than debt often have stronger financial flexibility, making them attractive in uncertain markets. Without interest payments being less of a worry, these businesses can invest more in growth, innovation, or buybacks and dividends.

Not all companies with sound capital structures are created equal, and StockStory is here to help you find the best. That said, here are three companies with net cash positions that can leverage their balance sheets to grow.

Cloudflare (NET)

Net Cash Position: $497.6 million (0.7% of Market Cap)

With a massive network spanning more than 310 cities in over 120 countries, Cloudflare (NYSE: NET) provides a global network that delivers security, performance and reliability services to protect websites, applications, and corporate networks.

Why Should You Buy NET?

  1. Average billings growth of 30.3% over the last year enhances its liquidity and shows there is steady demand for its products
  2. Notable projected revenue growth of 26.3% for the next 12 months hints at market share gains
  3. User-friendly software enables clients to ramp up spending quickly, leading to the speedy recovery of customer acquisition costs

Cloudflare is trading at $219.08 per share, or 31.3x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free for active Edge members .

Semrush (SEMR)

Net Cash Position: $245.7 million (23.4% of Market Cap)

Born from the need to make sense of the complex digital marketing landscape, Semrush (NYSE: SEMR) is a software-as-a-service platform that helps companies improve their online visibility, analyze digital marketing efforts, and optimize content across search engines and social media.

Why Does SEMR Stand Out?

  1. Billings have averaged 23% growth over the last year, showing it’s securing new contracts that could potentially increase in value over time
  2. Prominent and differentiated software leads to a stellar gross margin of 81.4%
  3. Free cash flow margin is anticipated to expand by 7.1 percentage points over the next year, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends

At $7.07 per share, Semrush trades at 2.2x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

UMB Financial (UMBF)

Net Cash Position: $8.26 billion (96.3% of Market Cap)

With roots dating back to 1913 and a name derived from "United Missouri Bank," UMB Financial (NASDAQ: UMBF) is a financial holding company that provides banking, asset management, and fund services to commercial, institutional, and individual customers.

Why Do We Like UMBF?

  1. Annual net interest income growth of 19.7% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Productivity and efficiency ratio profits are expected to increase next year as some fixed cost leverage kicks in
  3. Earnings per share grew by 15.3% annually over the last two years and trumped its peers

UMB Financial’s stock price of $113.02 implies a valuation ratio of 1.2x forward P/B. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking 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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