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

1 Profitable Stock for Long-Term Investors and 2 We Brush Off

UPS 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Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.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.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here is one profitable company that leverages its financial strength to beat the competition and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

United Parcel Service (UPS)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 9.3%

Trademarking its recognizable UPS Brown color, UPS (NYSE: UPS) offers package delivery, supply chain management, and freight forwarding services.

Why Do We Pass on UPS?

  1. Declining unit sales over the past two years imply it may need to invest in improvements to get back on track
  2. Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 18.4% annually, worse than its revenue
  3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

United Parcel Service is trading at $86.90 per share, or 11.8x forward P/E. If you’re considering UPS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Henry Schein (HSIC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5%

With a vast inventory of over 300,000 products stocked in distribution centers spanning more than 5.3 million square feet worldwide, Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC) is a global distributor of healthcare products and services primarily to dental practices, medical offices, and other healthcare facilities.

Why Is HSIC Not Exciting?

  1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
  2. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 3.6 percentage points
  3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Henry Schein’s stock price of $67.86 implies a valuation ratio of 13.3x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including HSIC in your portfolio.

One Stock to Watch:

Federated Hermes (FHI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 28%

With roots dating back to 1955 and a pioneering role in money market funds, Federated Hermes (NYSE: FHI) is an investment management firm that offers a wide range of funds and strategies for institutional and individual investors.

Why Are We Positive On FHI?

  1. Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 20.6% to outpace its revenue gains
  2. Stellar return on equity showcases management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures

At $51.74 per share, Federated Hermes trades at 11.3x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in 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 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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