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

2 Stocks Under $50 with Exciting Potential and 1 to Turn Down

WSC Cover Image

Stocks in the $10-50 range offer a sweet spot between affordability and stability as they’re typically more established than penny stocks. But their headline prices don’t guarantee quality, and investors should exercise caution as some have shaky business models.

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. That said, here are two stocks under $50 that could 10x and one that may have trouble.

One Stock Under $50 to Sell:

WillScot Mobile Mini (WSC)

Share Price: $29.50

Originally focusing on mobile offices for construction sites, WillScot (NASDAQ: WSC) provides ready-to-use temporary spaces, largely for longer-term lease.

Why Are We Wary of WSC?

  1. 2.4% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its industrials peers
  2. Incremental sales over the last two years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 10.1% annually while its revenue grew
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 5 percentage points

WillScot Mobile Mini is trading at $29.50 per share, or 17.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than WSC.

Two Stocks Under $50 to Watch:

Arlo Technologies (ARLO)

Share Price: $13.52

Originally spun off from networking equipment maker Netgear in 2018, Arlo Technologies (NYSE: ARLO) provides cloud-based smart security devices and subscription services that help consumers and businesses monitor and protect their homes, properties, and loved ones.

Why Does ARLO Stand Out?

  1. Operating profits and efficiency rose over the last five years as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
  2. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 193% outpaced its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 19.7 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with

At $13.52 per share, Arlo Technologies trades at 21.5x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Bloom Energy (BE)

Share Price: $19.75

Working in stealth mode for eight years, Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) designs, manufactures, and markets solid oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation.

Why Is BE a Good Business?

  1. Impressive 14.5% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
  2. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 74.2% outpaced its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow flipped to positive over the last five years, showing the company is at an important crossroads

Bloom Energy’s stock price of $19.75 implies a valuation ratio of 44.3x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like 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 176% over the last five years.

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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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