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

1 Profitable Stock Worth Your Attention and 2 Facing Challenges

LZ Cover Image

Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment. Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. Keeping that in mind, here is one profitable company that generates reliable profits without sacrificing growth and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Organon (OGN)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 18.9%

Spun off from Merck in 2021 to create a company dedicated to addressing unmet needs in women's health, Organon (NYSE: OGN) is a global healthcare company focused on improving women's health through prescription therapies, medical devices, biosimilars, and established medicines.

Why Does OGN Give Us Pause?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 2.6% annually over the last five years
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 25.6 percentage points

At $9.60 per share, Organon trades at 2.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than OGN.

Robert Half (RHI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3.3%

With roots dating back to 1948 as the first specialized recruiting firm for accounting and finance professionals, Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) provides specialized talent solutions and business consulting services, connecting skilled professionals with companies across various fields.

Why Do We Pass on RHI?

  1. Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last five years
  2. Sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 12.6% annually while its revenue was flat
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Robert Half’s stock price of $32.50 implies a valuation ratio of 18.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why RHI doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

LegalZoom (LZ)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5%

Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses.

Why Are We Fans of LZ?

  1. Subscription Units have grown by 11.7% annually, allowing for more profitable cross-selling opportunities if it can build complementary products and features
  2. Share repurchases over the last three years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 177% to outpace its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin increased by 14.9 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders

LegalZoom is trading at $10.07 per share, or 10.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Stocks We Like Even More

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 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. 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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