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.

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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 Volatile Stock to Consider Right Now and 2 Facing Challenges

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A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.

These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock that could deliver huge gains and two that could just as easily collapse.

Two Stocks to Sell:

MRC Global (MRC)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.58

Producing bomb casings and tracks for vehicles during WWII, MRC (NYSE: MRC) offers pipes, valves, and fitting products for various industries.

Why Do We Pass on MRC?

  1. Sales stagnated over the last five years and signal the need for new growth strategies
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, partly because it diluted shareholders
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 5.1 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

MRC Global’s stock price of $14.85 implies a valuation ratio of 12.9x forward P/E. If you’re considering MRC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Timken (TKR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.19

Established after the founder noticed the difficulty freight wagons had making sharp turns, Timken (NYSE: TKR) is a provider of industrial parts used across various sectors.

Why Should You Sell TKR?

  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. Demand will likely be weak over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue
  3. Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 12.7% annually, worse than its revenue

At $75.86 per share, Timken trades at 13.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with TKR, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

One Stock to Watch:

DoubleVerify (DV)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.08

Using advanced analytics to evaluate over 17 billion digital ad transactions daily, DoubleVerify (NYSE: DV) provides AI-powered technology that verifies digital ads are viewable, fraud-free, brand-suitable, and displayed in the intended geographic location.

Why Are We Positive On DV?

  1. Impressive 27.9% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share
  2. Software is difficult to replicate at scale and results in a stellar gross margin of 82.1%
  3. Well-designed software integrates seamlessly with other workflows, enabling swift payback periods on marketing expenses and customer growth at scale

DoubleVerify is trading at $11.35 per share, or 2.4x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Stocks We Like Even More

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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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