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 We Think Twice About

FTDR 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.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Frontdoor (FTDR)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 19.2%

Established in 2018 as a spin-off from ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Frontdoor (NASDAQ: FTDR) is a provider of home warranty and service plans.

Why Are We Cautious About FTDR?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 6.8% over the last five years was below our standards for the consumer discretionary sector
  2. Performance surrounding its home service plans has lagged its peers
  3. Projected sales growth of 8.6% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand

Frontdoor is trading at $54.88 per share, or 15.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering FTDR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Regal Rexnord (RRX)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11%

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Regal Rexnord (NYSE: RRX) provides power transmission and industrial automation products.

Why Are We Hesitant About RRX?

  1. 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
  2. Earnings per share have contracted by 3.1% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
  3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

At $139.10 per share, Regal Rexnord trades at 12.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including RRX in your portfolio.

Vontier (VNT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 18%

A spin-off of a spin-off, Vontier (NYSE: VNT) provides electronic products and systems to the transportation, automotive, and manufacturing sectors.

Why Are We Out on VNT?

  1. 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
  2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 7 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Vontier’s stock price of $40.55 implies a valuation ratio of 12.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VNT.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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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