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.

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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 Volatile Stocks Walking a Fine Line

TDUP Cover Image

Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains. This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. That said, here are three volatile stocks to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

ThredUp (TDUP)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 4.22

Founded to revolutionize thrifting, ThredUp (NASDAQ: TDUP) is a leading online fashion resale marketplace offering a wide selection of gently-used clothing and accessories.

Why Do We Avoid TDUP?

  1. Number of orders has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
  2. Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
  3. Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value

ThredUp’s stock price of $7.65 implies a valuation ratio of 103.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including TDUP in your portfolio.

Lucid (LCID)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.54

Founded by a former Tesla Vice President, Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) designs, manufactures, and sells luxury electric vehicles with long-range capabilities.

Why Are We Wary of LCID?

  1. Negative gross margin means it loses money on every sale and must pivot or scale quickly to survive
  2. Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model
  3. Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders

At $2.23 per share, Lucid trades at 3.8x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than LCID.

Applied Digital (APLD)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 2.99

Pivoting from its origins in cryptocurrency mining to become a key player in the AI infrastructure boom, Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) designs and operates specialized data centers that provide high-performance computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence and blockchain applications.

Why Do We Think Twice About APLD?

  1. Historically negative EPS casts doubt for cautious investors and clouds its long-term earnings prospects
  2. Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth
  3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

Applied Digital is trading at $14.50 per share, or 23.1x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering APLD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like More

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 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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