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

1 Safe-and-Steady Stock with Promising Prospects and 2 We Question

TSCO Cover Image

Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. Keeping that in mind, here is one low-volatility stock that could succeed under all market conditions and two that may not deliver the returns you need.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Golden Entertainment (GDEN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.93

Founded in 2001, Golden Entertainment (NASDAQ: GDEN) is a gaming company operating casinos, taverns, and distributed gaming platforms.

Why Are We Cautious About GDEN?

  1. Annual sales declines of 3.3% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market
  2. Projected sales growth of 1.5% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
  3. Poor free cash flow margin of 3.6% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends

Golden Entertainment is trading at $25.29 per share, or 32.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why GDEN doesn’t pass our bar.

Penumbra (PEN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.28

Founded in 2004 to address challenging medical conditions with significant unmet needs, Penumbra (NYSE: PEN) develops and manufactures innovative medical devices for treating vascular diseases and providing immersive healthcare rehabilitation solutions.

Why Does PEN Worry Us?

  1. Smaller revenue base of $1.28 billion means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
  2. Low free cash flow margin of 4% for the last five years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders
  3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

At $240.49 per share, Penumbra trades at 55.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PEN.

One Stock to Watch:

Tractor Supply (TSCO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.57

Started as a mail-order tractor parts business, Tractor Supply (NASDAQ: TSCO) is a retailer of general goods such as agricultural supplies, hardware, and pet food for the rural consumer.

Why Is TSCO on Our Radar?

  1. Bold push to open new stores demonstrates an ambitious strategy to establish itself in underpenetrated territories
  2. Projected revenue growth of 6.7% for the next 12 months suggests its momentum from the last six years will persist
  3. Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures

Tractor Supply’s stock price of $59.20 implies a valuation ratio of 26.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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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