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.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

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

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

2 Services Stocks with Solid Fundamentals and 1 to Avoid

MSA Cover Image

Business services providers play a critical role for enterprises, assisting them with everything from new hardware integrations to consulting and marketing. These firms have helped their customers unlock huge efficiencies, so it’s no surprise the industry has posted a 6.8% gain over the past six months, beating the S&P 500 by 3.2 percentage points.

Regardless of these results, investors must exercise caution as many companies in this space are sensitive to the ebbs and flows of the broader economy. Keeping that in mind, here are two services stocks boasting durable advantages and one we’re swiping left on.

One Business Services Stock to Sell:

Xerox (XRX)

Market Cap: $796.8 million

Once synonymous with photocopying, Xerox (NASDAQ: XRX) provides document technology, services, and software solutions for businesses, helping them manage information workflows across digital and physical platforms.

Why Do We Avoid XRX?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 7.3% annually over the last five years
  2. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results
  3. 6× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio shows it’s overleveraged and increases the probability of shareholder dilution if things turn unexpectedly

Xerox is trading at $6.41 per share, or 5x forward price-to-earnings. To fully understand why you should be careful with XRX, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Two Business Services Stocks to Watch:

MSA Safety (MSA)

Market Cap: $6.20 billion

Founded in 1914 and known as "The Safety Company," MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) develops and manufactures advanced safety products that protect workers and facility infrastructures across industries like firefighting, energy, construction, and manufacturing.

Why Are We Fans of MSA?

  1. Solid 8.8% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates its offering’s solve complex business issues
  2. Operating margin expanded by 4.8 percentage points over the last five years as it scaled and became more efficient
  3. Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 16.8% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue

At $157.99 per share, MSA Safety trades at 19.4x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Gartner (IT)

Market Cap: $37.03 billion

Founded in 1979 as a technology research firm and now serving executives across all business functions, Gartner (NYSE: IT) is a research and advisory firm that provides actionable insights, guidance, and tools to help executives make better decisions about technology and business strategies.

Why Should IT Be on Your Watchlist?

  1. Average constant currency growth of 7.3% over the past two years demonstrates its ability to grow internationally despite currency fluctuations
  2. Robust free cash flow margin of 20.8% gives it many options for capital deployment, and its improved cash conversion implies it’s becoming a less capital-intensive business
  3. Returns on capital are climbing as management makes more lucrative bets

Gartner’s stock price of $476.89 implies a valuation ratio of 36.9x forward price-to-earnings. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

With rates dropping, inflation stabilizing, and the elections in the rearview mirror, all signs point to the start of a new bull run - and we’re laser-focused on finding the best stocks for this upcoming cycle.

Put yourself in the driver’s seat by checking 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 175% over the last five years.

Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like United Rentals (+322% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.