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 Profitable Stocks Walking a Fine Line

POWI Cover Image

Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment. Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.

Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. That said, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Power Integrations (POWI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.6%

A leading supplier of parts for electronics such as home appliances, Power Integrations (NASDAQ: POWI) is a semiconductor designer and developer specializing in products used for high-voltage power conversion.

Why Should You Sell POWI?

  1. Sales were flat over the last five years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
  2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 11.7 percentage points
  3. Earnings per share have dipped by 3.1% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term

At $58.08 per share, Power Integrations trades at 33.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including POWI in your portfolio.

Align Technology (ALGN)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 14.7%

Pioneering an alternative to traditional metal braces with nearly invisible plastic aligners, Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN) designs and manufactures Invisalign clear aligners, iTero intraoral scanners, and dental CAD/CAM software for orthodontic and restorative treatments.

Why Do We Think Twice About ALGN?

  1. Weak clear aligner shipments over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 7.6 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Align Technology’s stock price of $200.10 implies a valuation ratio of 19.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering ALGN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Waters Corporation (WAT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 28.3%

Founded in 1958 and pioneering innovations in laboratory analysis for over six decades, Waters (NYSE: WAT) develops and manufactures analytical instruments, software, and consumables for liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis used in scientific research and quality testing.

Why Is WAT Not Exciting?

  1. Sales stagnated over the last two years and signal the need for new growth strategies
  2. 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
  3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

Waters Corporation is trading at $349.21 per share, or 26.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than WAT.

Stocks We Like More

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 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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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