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

1 Small-Cap Stock to Target This Week and 2 Facing Challenges

CWK Cover Image

Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they’re frequently overlooked by Wall Street. Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets.

These trade-offs can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could be the next 100 bagger and two best left ignored.

Two Small-Cap Stocks to Sell:

Cushman & Wakefield (CWK)

Market Cap: $3.65 billion

With expertise in the commercial real estate sector, Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a global Chicago-based real estate firm offering a comprehensive range of services to clients.

Why Are We Out on CWK?

  1. Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must innovate and find new ways to grow
  2. Projected sales growth of 1.4% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
  3. Earnings per share fell by 4.3% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable

At $15.69 per share, Cushman & Wakefield trades at 12.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CWK, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

Amentum (AMTM)

Market Cap: $5.52 billion

With operations spanning approximately 80 countries and a workforce of specialized engineers and technical experts, Amentum Holdings (NYSE: AMTM) provides advanced engineering and technology solutions to U.S. government agencies, allied governments, and commercial enterprises across defense, energy, and space sectors.

Why Does AMTM Fall Short?

  1. Sizable revenue base leads to growth challenges as its 3.8% annual revenue increases over the last two years fell short of other business services companies
  2. Demand is forecasted to shrink as its estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat
  3. Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of 1.9% for the last four years

Amentum’s stock price of $22.33 implies a valuation ratio of 9.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why AMTM doesn’t pass our bar.

One Small-Cap Stock to Buy:

Construction Partners (ROAD)

Market Cap: $6.48 billion

Founded in 2001, Construction Partners (NASDAQ: ROAD) is a civil infrastructure company that builds and maintains roads, highways, and other infrastructure projects.

Why Should You Buy ROAD?

  1. Notable projected revenue growth of 30% for the next 12 months hints at market share gains
  2. Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 70.6% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 5.1 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with

Construction Partners is trading at $114.50 per share, or 41.1x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Stocks We Like Even More

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 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 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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