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.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

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.

Photonics Hot List

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

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why

WSM Cover Image

What Happened?

Shares of kitchenware and home goods retailer Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) jumped 3.2% in the afternoon session after its West Elm brand announced an expanded collaboration with fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra for a new kids' collection. The collection, which launched on the same day as the stock's rise, was inspired by the designer's children and featured nature-inspired, hand-drawn botanical designs on items like furniture, bedding, and rugs. This strategic partnership was viewed as a way for the company to enhance its product offerings and capture a niche, fashion-conscious segment of the home retail market. The news likely built on investor confidence, which was also supported by the company's strong digital leadership and robust financial health.

After the initial pop the shares cooled down to $187.63, up 3.2% from previous close.

Is now the time to buy Williams-Sonoma? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.

What Is The Market Telling Us

Williams-Sonoma’s shares are quite volatile and have had 15 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 5 days ago when the stock gained 3.7% after an analyst upgrade and fresh data that showed an unexpected rebound in U.S. retail sales, signaling consumer spending remained resilient. Investment firm Gordon Haskett upgraded the specialty retailer's stock from a "hold" to a "buy" and set a $205 price target, citing confidence in the company's performance. 

The positive sentiment was further supported by a broader rally in the consumer retail sector. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, retail and food services sales for June rose 0.6% from the previous month and were up 3.9% year-over-year. This increase, which beat economists' expectations, marked a welcome recovery after two consecutive months of declines. The data suggested that despite pressures from inflation, consumers were still spending. This broad-based improvement in consumer activity boosted investor confidence in retailers like Williams-Sonoma, as it pointed to healthier-than-feared demand for home goods.

Williams-Sonoma is up 0% since the beginning of the year, but at $187.63 per share, it is still trading 13.8% below its 52-week high of $217.71 from February 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Williams-Sonoma’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $4,494.

Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we’ve identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.