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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Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

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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 Volatile Stock with Impressive Fundamentals and 2 We Ignore

OLPX Cover Image

Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.

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

Two Stocks to Sell:

Olaplex (OLPX)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.45

Rising to fame on TikTok because of its “bond building" hair products, Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX) offers products and treatments that repair the damage caused by traditional heat and chemical-based styling goods.

Why Do We Think Twice About OLPX?

  1. Annual revenue declines of 16.4% over the last three years indicate problems with its market positioning
  2. Sales were less profitable over the last three years as its earnings per share fell by 49.6% annually, worse than its revenue declines
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 13.2 percentage points

Olaplex’s stock price of $1.28 implies a valuation ratio of 14.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than OLPX.

AeroVironment (AVAV)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.61

Focused on the future of autonomous military combat, AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) specializes in advanced unmanned aircraft systems and electric vehicle charging solutions.

Why Does AVAV Give Us Pause?

  1. Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 9.4 percentage points
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 25.6 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction

At $396.00 per share, AeroVironment trades at 92.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including AVAV in your portfolio.

One Stock to Buy:

Axon (AXON)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.83

Providing body cameras and tasers for first responders, AXON (NASDAQ: AXON) develops technology solutions and weapons products for military, law enforcement, and civilians.

Why Are We Backing AXON?

  1. Products are reaching more customers as its unit sales averaged 28.8% growth over the past two years
  2. Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 46.5% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
  3. Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing

Axon is trading at $714.44 per share, or 107.4x 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.

Stocks We Like Even More

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 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-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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