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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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 Profitable Stocks in Hot Water

MIDD Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. Keeping that in mind, here are three profitable companies to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

Middleby (MIDD)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 17.1%

Holding a Guinness World Record for creating the world’s fastest conveyor pizza oven, Middleby (NYSE: MIDD) is a food service and equipment manufacturer.

Why Should You Sell MIDD?

  1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 2% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
  3. Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 2.7% annually

At $141.49 per share, Middleby trades at 14.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering MIDD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Bel Fuse (BELFA)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 15.1%

Founded by 26-year-old Elliot Bernstein during the electronics boom after WW2, Bel Fuse (NASDAQ: BELF.A) provides electronic systems and devices to the telecommunications, networking, transportation, and industrial sectors.

Why Is BELFA Not Exciting?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 10% annually over the last two years
  2. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term

Bel Fuse’s stock price of $80.50 implies a valuation ratio of 8.5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with BELFA, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Premier (PINC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.3%

Operating one of the largest healthcare group purchasing organizations in the United States with over 4,350 hospital members, Premier (NASDAQ: PINC) is a technology-driven healthcare improvement company that helps hospitals, health systems, and other providers reduce costs and improve clinical outcomes.

Why Do We Think PINC Will Underperform?

  1. Sales tumbled by 9.3% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Projected sales decline of 10.6% over the next 12 months indicates demand will continue deteriorating
  3. Earnings per share have dipped by 9.5% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term

Premier is trading at $21.55 per share, or 16.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PINC.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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 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 Comfort Systems (+782% 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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