About Us

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

A 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.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

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
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

3 Cash-Producing Stocks Facing Headwinds

By: StockStory

JWN Cover Image

Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments. Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.

Not all companies are created equal, and StockStory is here to surface the ones with real upside. That said, here are three cash-producing companies to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

Nordstrom (JWN)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 5.2%

Known for its exceptional customer service that features a ‘no questions asked’ return policy, Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) is a high-end department store chain.

Why Should You Sell JWN?

  1. Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
  2. Operating margin of 2.5% falls short of the industry average, and the smaller profit dollars make it harder to react to unexpected market developments
  3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

Nordstrom’s stock price of $24.66 implies a valuation ratio of 11.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why JWN doesn’t pass our bar.

Levi's (LEVI)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 7.3%

Credited for inventing the first pair of blue jeans in 1873, Levi's (NYSE: LEVI) is an apparel company renowned for its iconic denim products and classic American style.

Why Do We Pass on LEVI?

  1. Underwhelming constant currency revenue performance over the past two years suggests its product offering at current prices doesn’t resonate with customers
  2. Demand will likely be weak over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue
  3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Levi's is trading at $17.83 per share, or 13.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including LEVI in your portfolio.

AMETEK (AME)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 24.7%

Started from its humble beginnings in motor repair, AMETEK (NYSE: AME) manufactures electronic devices used in industries like aerospace, power, and healthcare.

Why Are We Wary of AME?

  1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
  2. Estimated sales growth of 2.1% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
  3. Free cash flow margin shrank by 2.1 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

At $179.50 per share, AMETEK trades at 24.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with AME, check out our full research report (it’s free).

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.

While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking 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 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.

More News

View More
SoundHound Breaks Critical Resistance: How High Can It Get Now?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers SOUN
Klarna IPO: BNPL Stock or Something Bigger?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Initial Public Offering
Tickers AFRM KLAR
Why Teradyne Is a Core Play in the AI Hardware Boom
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers TER
Meta Debuts Next-Gen AI Glasses—A Turning Point for Reality Labs?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AAPL META
How IREN is Building an AI Powerhouse on a Bitcoin Foundation
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Supply Chain
Tickers IREN NVDA
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.