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 Low-Volatility Stocks in Hot Water

BURL Cover Image

Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

Burlington (BURL)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.91

Founded in 1972 as a discount coat and outerwear retailer, Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) is now an off-price retailer that has broadened into general apparel, footwear, and home goods.

Why Do We Think Twice About BURL?

  1. Annual sales growth of 8% over the last six years lagged behind its consumer retail peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
  2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 7.5 percentage points over the last year, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
  3. Underwhelming 8.5% return on capital reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

Burlington’s stock price of $254.51 implies a valuation ratio of 26.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BURL.

Kimberly-Clark (KMB)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.19

Originally founded as a Wisconsin paper mill in 1872, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is now a household products powerhouse known for personal care and tissue products.

Why Does KMB Fall Short?

  1. Flat sales over the last three years suggest it must innovate and find new ways to grow
  2. Flat unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to move its products and had to rely on price increases
  3. Sales are projected to tank by 3.1% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates further

Kimberly-Clark is trading at $127.07 per share, or 16.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with KMB, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Ready Capital (RC)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.91

Operating as one of only 17 non-bank Small Business Lending Companies with preferred lender status from the SBA, Ready Capital (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, and services commercial real estate loans, small business loans, and other real estate investments.

Why Should You Sell RC?

  1. Forecasted net interest income decline of 10.2% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall off a cliff
  2. Earnings per share have dipped by 19.9% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
  3. Loan losses and capital returns have eroded its tangible book value per share this cycle as its tangible book value per share declined by 6.5% annually over the last five years

At $4.33 per share, Ready Capital trades at 0.4x forward P/B. If you’re considering RC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like 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

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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