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

3 Profitable Stocks with Warning Signs

WEN Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

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 are three profitable companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Wendy's (WEN)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 17%

Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy’s (NASDAQ: WEN) is a renowned fast-food chain known for its fresh, never-frozen beef burgers, flavorful menu options, and commitment to quality.

Why Is WEN Not Exciting?

  1. Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its menu offerings and dining experience
  2. Projected sales decline of 2.3% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead
  3. 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings

At $8.88 per share, Wendy's trades at 10.3x forward P/E. If you’re considering WEN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Mondelez (MDLZ)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 12.4%

Founded as Nabisco in 1903, Mondelez (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is a packaged snacks powerhouse best known for its Oreo, Cadbury, Toblerone, Ritz, and Trident brands.

Why Does MDLZ Give Us Pause?

  1. Flat unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its product strategy
  2. Efficiency has decreased over the last year as its operating margin fell by 4.7 percentage points
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Mondelez is trading at $62.46 per share, or 19.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MDLZ in your portfolio.

ICF International (ICFI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 8.1%

Operating at the intersection of policy, technology, and implementation for over five decades, ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) provides professional consulting services and technology solutions to government agencies and commercial clients across energy, health, environment, and security sectors.

Why Should You Sell ICFI?

  1. Product roadmap and go-to-market strategy need to be reconsidered as its backlog has averaged 1.2% declines over the past two years
  2. Sales are projected to tank by 2.3% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates
  3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

ICF International’s stock price of $87.40 implies a valuation ratio of 12.5x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ICFI, check out 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 6 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

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