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 Low-Volatility Stocks Skating on Thin Ice

ASUR 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.

Asure (ASUR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.81

Created from the merger of two small workforce management companies in 2007, Asure (NASDAQ: ASUR) provides cloud based payroll and HR software for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Why Does ASUR Give Us Pause?

  1. Revenue increased by 15.1% annually over the last three years, acceptable on an absolute basis but tepid for a software company enjoying secular tailwinds
  2. Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 7.9% average billings growth over the last year was weak
  3. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last year as its operating margin fell by 5.4 percentage points

Asure’s stock price of $9.30 implies a valuation ratio of 1.9x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ASUR.

Coty (COTY)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.83

With a portfolio boasting many household brands, Coty (NYSE: COTY) is a beauty products powerhouse spanning cosmetics, fragrances, and skincare.

Why Do We Pass on COTY?

  1. Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
  2. Forecasted revenue decline of 2.7% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall off a cliff
  3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

Coty is trading at $4.69 per share, or 8.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering COTY for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Two Harbors Investment (TWO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.73

Operating in the complex world of mortgage finance since 2009, Two Harbors Investment (NYSE: TWO) is a real estate investment trust that invests in mortgage servicing rights and agency residential mortgage-backed securities.

Why Should You Dump TWO?

  1. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 29.9% annually
  2. Tangible book value per share tumbled by 12% annually over the last five years, showing bank sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  3. ROE of 5.2% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities

At $10.55 per share, Two Harbors Investment trades at 0.7x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with TWO, check out our full research report (it’s free).

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 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-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

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