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 Profitable Stocks with Open Questions

PII 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 steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

Polaris (PII)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3.2%

Founded in 1954, Polaris (NYSE: PII) designs and manufactures high-performance off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

Why Should You Sell PII?

  1. Products and services aren't resonating with the market as its revenue declined by 11.6% annually over the last two years
  2. Earnings per share fell by 27.4% annually over the last five years while its revenue was flat, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Polaris is trading at $52.22 per share, or 34.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering PII for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Columbus McKinnon (CMCO)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 7.9%

With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ: CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

Why Should You Dump CMCO?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 1.4% over the last two years was below our standards for the industrials sector
  2. Earnings per share fell by 1% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
  3. 10.8 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

Columbus McKinnon’s stock price of $15.60 implies a valuation ratio of 5.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CMCO, check out our full research report (it’s free).

FARO (FARO)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 4.6%

Launched by two PhD students in a garage, FARO (NASDAQ: FARO) provides 3D measurement and imaging systems for the manufacturing, construction, engineering, and public safety industries.

Why Are We Hesitant About FARO?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 1.5% annually over the last five years
  2. Historical operating margin losses point to an inefficient cost structure
  3. Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth

At $44 per share, FARO trades at 39.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than FARO.

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 6 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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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