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

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 Volatile Stock for Long-Term Investors and 2 We Question

SHOP Cover Image

Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains. This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock that could reward patient investors and two that could just as easily collapse.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling (HY)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.16

Playing a significant role in the development of the hydraulic lift truck, Hyster-Yale (NYSE: HY) designs, manufactures, and sells materials handling equipment to various sectors.

Why Should You Dump HY?

  1. Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last two years
  2. Sales are projected to tank by 4.8% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates further
  3. Performance over the past five years was negatively impacted by new share issuances as its earnings per share were flat while its revenue grew

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling’s stock price of $36.94 implies a valuation ratio of 4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with HY, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Invesco (IVZ)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.34

With roots dating back to 1935 when it pioneered the first mutual fund with an objective of capital growth, Invesco (NYSE: IVZ) is a global asset management firm that offers investment solutions across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies.

Why Do We Think IVZ Will Underperform?

  1. Annual sales declines of 2.4% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
  2. Flat earnings per share over the last five years underperformed the sector average
  3. Low return on equity reflects management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

At $23.24 per share, Invesco trades at 12x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than IVZ.

One Stock to Buy:

Shopify (SHOP)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 2.29

Starting with just three people selling snowboards online in 2004, Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) provides a comprehensive platform that enables merchants of all sizes to create, manage and grow their businesses across multiple sales channels.

Why Do We Love SHOP?

  1. Average billings growth of 29.5% over the last year enhances its liquidity and shows there is steady demand for its products
  2. Revenue outlook for the upcoming 12 months is outstanding and shows it’s on track to gain market share
  3. Software platform has product-market fit given the rapid recovery of its customer acquisition costs

Shopify is trading at $149.84 per share, or 15.8x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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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