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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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

2 Stocks Under $50 with Solid Fundamentals and 1 We Question

OFG Cover Image

Stocks in the $10-50 range offer a sweet spot between affordability and stability as they’re typically more established than penny stocks. But their headline prices don’t guarantee quality, and investors should exercise caution as some have shaky business models.

This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. That said, here are two stocks under $50 with huge potential and one that may have trouble.

One Stock Under $50 to Sell:

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY)

Share Price: $49.33

Founded in 1962 with its first branch in Los Angeles' Chinatown, Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ: CATY) operates Cathay Bank, providing commercial banking services to businesses and individuals with a strong presence in Asian-American communities.

Why Are We Cautious About CATY?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 3.8% annually over the last two years
  2. Net interest income trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 5.4% annual growth was below the typical banking firm
  3. Net interest margin dropped by 48.3 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, implying the firm’s loan book profitability fell as competitors entered the market

Cathay General Bancorp is trading at $49.33 per share, or 1.1x forward P/B. If you’re considering CATY for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Two Stocks Under $50 to Watch:

OFG Bancorp (OFG)

Share Price: $43.38

Originally founded in 1964 as a federal savings and loan institution, OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) provides banking and financial services including commercial and consumer lending, wealth management, insurance, and trust services primarily in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Why Will OFG Outperform?

  1. Differentiated product suite is reflected in its Strong performance of its loan book leads to a High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds result in a best-in-class net interest margin of 5.6%
  2. Non-interest operating profits increased over the last four years as the firm gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
  3. Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 6.3% to outpace its revenue gains

At $43.38 per share, OFG Bancorp trades at 1.4x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Hamilton Insurance Group (HG)

Share Price: $24.62

Founded in 2013 and operating through three distinct underwriting platforms across four countries, Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE: HG) operates global specialty insurance and reinsurance platforms across Lloyd's, Ireland, Bermuda, and the United States.

Why Could HG Be a Winner?

  1. Market share has increased this cycle as its 49.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional
  2. Market penetration was impressive this cycle as its net premiums earned expanded by 26% annually over the last two years
  3. Combined ratio improvement of 32.5 percentage points over the last two years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently

Hamilton Insurance Group’s stock price of $24.62 implies a valuation ratio of 0.9x 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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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