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

3 Bank Stocks in the Doghouse

TOWN Cover Image

Banks play a critical role in the financial system, providing everything from commercial loans to wealth management and payment processing services. But worries about an economic slowdown and potential credit deterioration have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the banking industry has tumbled by 7.1%. This drawdown was disheartening since the S&P 500 gained 1.1%.

Investors should tread carefully as many of these banks are also cyclical, and any misstep can have you catching a falling knife. Keeping that in mind, here are three bank stocks we’re passing on.

TowneBank (TOWN)

Market Cap: $2.40 billion

Founded in 1998 with a commitment to community-centered banking in the Hampton Roads region, TowneBank (NASDAQ: TOWN) is a community-focused financial institution providing banking, lending, and wealth management services to individuals and businesses in Virginia and North Carolina.

Why Are We Wary of TOWN?

  1. Net interest income trends were unexciting over the last four years as its 4.2% annual growth was below the typical bank company
  2. Net interest margin of 3% reflects its high servicing and capital costs
  3. Operational productivity has decreased over the last four years as its efficiency ratio worsened by 13.6 percentage points

TowneBank’s stock price of $32.78 implies a valuation ratio of 1.1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with TOWN, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Texas Capital Bank (TCBI)

Market Cap: $3.48 billion

Founded during the Texas banking renaissance of the 1990s with an entrepreneurial spirit, Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBI) is a financial services firm that provides banking, wealth management, and investment banking services to businesses and individuals across Texas and beyond.

Why Do We Think Twice About TCBI?

  1. 3.1% annual net interest income growth over the last four years was slower than its bank peers
  2. Weak unit economics are reflected in its net interest margin of 3.1%, one of the worst among bank companies
  3. Sales were less profitable over the last five years as its earnings per share fell by 21.5% annually, worse than its revenue declines

Texas Capital Bank is trading at $75.72 per share, or 1x forward P/B. If you’re considering TCBI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

BankUnited (BKU)

Market Cap: $2.54 billion

Born from the ashes of a failed Florida thrift during the 2009 financial crisis, BankUnited (NYSE: BKU) is a regional bank that provides commercial lending, deposit services, and treasury solutions to businesses and consumers primarily in Florida and the New York metropolitan area.

Why Is BKU Not Exciting?

  1. Muted 5% annual net interest income growth over the last four years shows its demand lagged behind its bank peers
  2. Weak unit economics are reflected in its net interest margin of 2.7%, one of the worst among bank companies
  3. Annual earnings per share growth of 1.8% underperformed its revenue over the last five years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable

At $33.76 per share, BankUnited trades at 0.8x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BKU.

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 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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

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.