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

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 Stocks Under $50 We Keep Off Our Radar

ENR Cover Image

Stocks trading between $10 and $50 can be particularly interesting as they frequently represent businesses that have survived their early challenges. However, investors should remain vigilant as some may still have unproven business models, leaving them vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of the broader market.

Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

Energizer (ENR)

Share Price: $22.88

Masterminds behind the viral Energizer Bunny mascot, Energizer (NYSE: ENR) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of batteries.

Why Does ENR Fall Short?

  1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  2. Estimated sales growth of 1.4% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 4.6 percentage points

Energizer is trading at $22.88 per share, or 6.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ENR doesn’t pass our bar.

Rocket Lab (RKLB)

Share Price: $51.28

Becoming the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) offers rockets designed for launching small satellites.

Why Is RKLB Not Exciting?

  1. Historically negative EPS is a worrisome sign for conservative investors and obscures its long-term earnings potential
  2. Negative free cash flow raises questions about the return timeline for its investments
  3. Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders

At $51.28 per share, Rocket Lab trades at 41x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than RKLB.

Veritex Holdings (VBTX)

Share Price: $32.15

Founded during the 2009 financial crisis when many banks were failing, Veritex Holdings (NASDAQGM:VBTX) operates Veritex Community Bank, providing commercial and retail banking services to small and medium-sized businesses and professionals in Texas.

Why Are We Wary of VBTX?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 1.1% annually over the last two years
  2. Estimated net interest income growth of 2.6% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its four-year trend
  3. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 12.8% annually, worse than its revenue declines

Veritex Holdings’s stock price of $32.15 implies a valuation ratio of 1.1x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including VBTX in your portfolio.

Stocks We Like More

Trump’s April 2024 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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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