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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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 We Find Risky

COLM 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. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Columbia Sportswear (COLM)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.37

Originally founded as a hat store in 1938, Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ: COLM) is a manufacturer of outerwear, sportswear, and footwear designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

Why Do We Pass on COLM?

  1. Weak constant currency growth over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining its market share
  2. Sales are projected to be flat over the next 12 months and imply weak demand
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Columbia Sportswear’s stock price of $59.91 implies a valuation ratio of 16.8x forward P/E. If you’re considering COLM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

FTI Consulting (FCN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.44

With a team of experts deployed across 30+ countries to tackle complex business challenges, FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN) is a global business advisory firm that helps organizations manage change, mitigate risk, and resolve disputes across financial, legal, operational, and regulatory matters.

Why Are We Cautious About FCN?

  1. Estimated sales growth of 1.3% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
  2. Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last five years, causing its adjusted operating margin to decline by 2.8 percentage points
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 5.6 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

FTI Consulting is trading at $166.22 per share, or 20.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why FCN doesn’t pass our bar.

Northwest Bancshares (NWBI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.68

Founded in 1896 and operating across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Indiana, Northwest Bancshares (NASDAQ: NWBI) is a bank holding company that operates Northwest Bank, providing personal and business banking, investment management, and trust services.

Why Do We Avoid NWBI?

  1. Muted 3.2% annual net interest income growth over the last four years shows its demand lagged behind its bank peers
  2. Capital trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 1.4% annual tangible book value per share growth was below the typical bank company
  3. Forecasted tangible book value per share decline of 7.1% for the upcoming 12 months implies profitability will deteriorate significantly

At $13.50 per share, Northwest Bancshares trades at 1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NWBI.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2024 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check 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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