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.

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

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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 Volatile Stocks to Research Further

UPWK Cover Image

High volatility doesn’t always mean high risk - some companies experience wild price swings but still trend reliably upward over time. In fact, many of the market’s biggest winners have been highly volatile stocks.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. Keeping that in mind, here are three volatile stocks that could deliver huge gains.

Upwork (UPWK)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.32

Formed through the 2013 merger of Elance and oDesk, Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) is an online platform where businesses and independent professionals connect to get work done.

Why Does UPWK Stand Out?

  1. Customer spending is rising as the company has focused on monetization over the last two years, leading to 8.3% annual growth in its average revenue per customer
  2. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 395% over the last three years outstripped its revenue performance
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 27 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more chips to play with

Upwork’s stock price of $13.40 implies a valuation ratio of 10.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

CECO Environmental (CECO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.62

With roots dating back to 1869 and a focus on creating cleaner industrial operations, CECO Environmental (NASDAQ: CECO) provides technology and expertise that helps industrial companies reduce emissions, treat water, and improve energy efficiency across various sectors.

Why Do We Like CECO?

  1. Impressive 17.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
  2. Projected revenue growth of 22.6% for the next 12 months is above its two-year trend, pointing to accelerating demand
  3. Adjusted operating margin expanded by 10.8 percentage points over the last five years as it scaled and became more efficient

At $29.36 per share, CECO Environmental trades at 22.8x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

Howmet (HWM)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.46

Inventing the first forged aluminum truck wheel, Howmet (NYSE: HWM) specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing multi-material components used in vehicles.

Why Is HWM a Top Pick?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 12.7% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 40.5% exceeded its revenue gains over the last two years
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 12.6 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with

Howmet is trading at $170.25 per share, or 50.3x 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

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 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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

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