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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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 with Questionable Fundamentals

SLGN Cover Image

Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets.

Finding the right balance between safety and returns isn’t easy, which is why StockStory is here to help. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Silgan Holdings (SLGN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.51

Established in 1987, Silgan Holdings (NYSE: SLGN) is a supplier of rigid packaging for consumer goods products, specializing in metal containers, closures, and plastic packaging.

Why Are We Out on SLGN?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 3% annually over the last two years
  2. Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
  3. Earnings per share have contracted by 2.7% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance

Silgan Holdings’s stock price of $56.01 implies a valuation ratio of 13.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SLGN doesn’t pass our bar.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (AMPH)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.50

Founded in 1996 and known for its expertise in complex drug formulations, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMPH) develops and manufactures technically challenging injectable and inhalation medications, including both generic and proprietary pharmaceutical products.

Why Are We Cautious About AMPH?

  1. Smaller revenue base of $730.7 million means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
  2. Demand will likely fall over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals is trading at $22.59 per share, or 6.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including AMPH in your portfolio.

United Bankshares (UBSI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.79

With roots dating back to 1982 and a strong presence in the Mid-Atlantic region, United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking services through its United Bank subsidiary across multiple states.

Why Is UBSI Not Exciting?

  1. Sales were flat over the last two years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
  2. Net interest income trends were unexciting over the last four years as its 6.4% annual growth was below the typical bank company
  3. Muted 7.3% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last two years shows its capital generation lagged behind its bank peers

At $36.86 per share, United Bankshares trades at 1x forward P/B. If you’re considering UBSI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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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