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

3 Stocks Under $50 We Keep Off Our Radar

INTC Cover Image

The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead. They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.

These dynamics 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. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

Intel (INTC)

Share Price: $37.15

Inventor of the x86 processor that powered decades of technological innovation in PCs, data centers, and numerous other markets, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a leading manufacturer of computer processors and graphics chips.

Why Should You Sell INTC?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 7.6% annually over the last five years
  2. Overall productivity fell over the last five years as its plummeting sales were accompanied by a decline in its operating margin
  3. Free cash flow margin shrank by 39.5 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

Intel is trading at $37.15 per share, or 170x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why INTC doesn’t pass our bar.

Wiley (WLY)

Share Price: $37.05

With roots dating back to 1807 when Charles Wiley opened a small printing shop in Manhattan, John Wiley & Sons (NYSE: WLY) is a global academic publisher that provides scientific journals, books, digital courseware, and knowledge solutions for researchers, students, and professionals.

Why Do We Avoid WLY?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 1.9% annually over the last five years
  2. Earnings per share have dipped by 1.3% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 7.3 percentage points

Wiley’s stock price of $37.05 implies a valuation ratio of 5.6x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including WLY in your portfolio.

Steelcase (SCS)

Share Price: $16.55

Founded in 1912 when metal office furniture was replacing wooden alternatives, Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) is a global office furniture manufacturer that designs and produces workplace solutions including desks, chairs, architectural products, and services.

Why Do We Steer Clear of SCS?

  1. Sales were flat over the last five years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
  2. Flat earnings per share over the last five years underperformed the sector average
  3. Low free cash flow margin of 0.7% for the last five years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders

At $16.55 per share, Steelcase trades at 13.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SCS, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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 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-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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