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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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 S&P 500 Stock with Solid Fundamentals and 2 Facing Headwinds

TJX Cover Image

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition.

Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. That said, here is one S&P 500 stock that is leading the market forward and two best left off your watchlist.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Sherwin-Williams (SHW)

Market Cap: $84.84 billion

Widely known for its success in the paint industry, Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) is a manufacturer of paints, coatings, and related products.

Why Are We Cautious About SHW?

  1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 2.4% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
  3. 7.6 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

Sherwin-Williams’s stock price of $340.70 implies a valuation ratio of 27.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering SHW for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Lennar (LEN)

Market Cap: $33.01 billion

One of the largest homebuilders in America, Lennar (NYSE: LEN) is known for constructing affordable, move-up, and retirement homes across a range of markets and communities.

Why Do We Pass on LEN?

  1. Product roadmap and go-to-market strategy need to be reconsidered as its backlog has averaged 19.2% declines over the past two years
  2. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 11.1 percentage points
  3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

Lennar is trading at $128.46 per share, or 13.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than LEN.

One Stock to Watch:

TJX (TJX)

Market Cap: $160.6 billion

Initially based on a strategy of buying excess inventory from manufacturers or other retailers, TJX (NYSE: TJX) is an off-price retailer that sells brand-name apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.

Why Is TJX on Our Radar?

  1. Comparable store sales rose by 4.1% on average over the past two years, demonstrating its ability to drive increased spending at existing locations
  2. Massive revenue base of $57.93 billion makes up for its weaker gross margin and makes it a household name that influences purchasing decisions
  3. Market-beating returns on capital illustrate that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures, and its rising returns show it’s making even more lucrative bets

At $144.85 per share, TJX trades at 30.9x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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-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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