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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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 Market-Beating Stocks to Research Further

CAVA Cover Image

Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns, and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.

The bottom line is that over the long term, earnings growth goes hand in hand with the biggest winners. Keeping that in mind, here are three market-beating stocks that deserve a spot on your list.

CAVA (CAVA)

Return Since IPO: +78.2%

Starting from a single Washington, D.C. location, CAVA (NYSE: CAVA) operates a fast-casual restaurant chain offering customizable Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

Why Does CAVA Catch Our Eye?

  1. Aggressive strategy of rolling out new restaurants to gobble up whitespace is prudent given its same-store sales growth
  2. Customers are lining up to eat at its restaurants as the company’s same-store sales growth averaged 13.8% over the past two years
  3. Free cash flow margin expanded by 7.9 percentage points over the last year, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends

CAVA is trading at $78 per share, or 127.8x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Armstrong World (AWI)

Five-Year Return: +109%

Started as a two-man shop dating back to the 1860s, Armstrong (NYSE: AWI) provides ceiling and wall products to commercial and residential spaces.

Why Are We Positive On AWI?

  1. 9.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years surpassed the sector average as its offerings resonated with customers
  2. Highly efficient business model is illustrated by its impressive 24.6% operating margin
  3. Strong free cash flow margin of 19.6% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently

At $163.12 per share, Armstrong World trades at 22.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Waste Connections (WCN)

Five-Year Return: +98.2%

Operating a network of municipal solid waste landfills in the U.S. and Canada, Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) is North America's third-largest waste management company providing collection, disposal, and recycling services.

Why Should WCN Be on Your Watchlist?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 10.5% over the past five years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
  2. Operating profits and efficiency rose over the last five years as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
  3. Robust free cash flow margin of 15.2% gives it many options for capital deployment

Waste Connections’s stock price of $185.90 implies a valuation ratio of 34.4x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive 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 6 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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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