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.

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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

3 Dawdling Stocks with Questionable Fundamentals

RUSHA Cover Image

A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance. Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. That said, here are three low-volatility stocks that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Rush Enterprises (RUSHA)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.89

Headquartered in Texas, Rush Enterprises (NASDAQ: RUSH.A) provides truck-related services and solutions, including sales, leasing, parts, and maintenance for commercial vehicles.

Why Do We Steer Clear of RUSHA?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 2.2% annual growth was below the typical industrials company
  2. Projected sales decline of 1.5% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead
  3. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term

Rush Enterprises is trading at $48.75 per share, or 7.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering RUSHA for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Douglas Dynamics (PLOW)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.59

Once manufacturing snowplows designed for the iconic jeep vehicle precursor, Douglas Dynamics (NYSE: PLOW) offers snow and ice equipment for the roads and sidewalks.

Why Is PLOW Risky?

  1. Sales stagnated over the last two years and signal the need for new growth strategies
  2. Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 2.4% annually while its revenue grew
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 5 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

At $26.75 per share, Douglas Dynamics trades at 13.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why PLOW doesn’t pass our bar.

Henry Schein (HSIC)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.31

With a vast inventory of over 300,000 products stocked in distribution centers spanning more than 5.3 million square feet worldwide, Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC) is a global distributor of healthcare products and services primarily to dental practices, medical offices, and other healthcare facilities.

Why Are We Wary of HSIC?

  1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  2. Estimated sales growth of 3.3% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
  3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Henry Schein’s stock price of $68.89 implies a valuation ratio of 13.9x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HSIC.

Stocks We Like More

Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.

While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we’re leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market 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 Axon (+711% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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