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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If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

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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 Profitable Stocks That Concern Us

EFX 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.

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. That said, here are three profitable companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Equifax (EFX)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 18.4%

Holding detailed financial records on over 800 million consumers worldwide and dating back to 1899, Equifax (NYSE: EFX) is a global data analytics company that collects, analyzes, and sells consumer and business credit information to lenders, employers, and other businesses.

Why Does EFX Give Us Pause?

  1. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 6.8 percentage points
  2. Annual earnings per share growth of 4% underperformed its revenue over the last two years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable
  3. Underwhelming 10.6% return on capital reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

Equifax’s stock price of $257.83 implies a valuation ratio of 33x forward P/E. If you’re considering EFX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

ScanSource (SCSC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3%

Operating as a crucial link in the technology supply chain since 1992, ScanSource (NASDAQ: SCSC) is a hybrid distributor that connects hardware, software, and cloud services from technology suppliers to resellers and business customers.

Why Do We Pass on SCSC?

  1. Sales tumbled by 1.5% annually over the last five years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Earnings per share have contracted by 8.5% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
  3. Underwhelming 8.2% return on capital reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

At $41.02 per share, ScanSource trades at 11.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SCSC in your portfolio.

Selective Insurance Group (SIGI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.9%

Founded in 1926 during the early days of automobile insurance, Selective Insurance Group (NASDAQ: SIGI) is a property and casualty insurance company that sells commercial, personal, and excess and surplus lines insurance products through independent agents.

Why Are We Hesitant About SIGI?

  1. Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last two years, causing its combined ratio to worsen by 7.9 percentage points
  2. Earnings per share fell by 14.7% annually over the last two years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
  3. Underwhelming 11.2% return on equity reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

Selective Insurance Group is trading at $88.57 per share, or 1.6x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with SIGI, check out our full research report (it’s free).

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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