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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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.

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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 Volatile Stocks Walking a Fine Line

HUBG Cover Image

A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. Keeping that in mind, here are three volatile stocks best left to the gamblers and some better opportunities instead.

Hub Group (HUBG)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.17

Started with $10,000, Hub Group (NASDAQ: HUBG) is a provider of intermodal, truck brokerage, and logistics services, facilitating transportation solutions for businesses worldwide.

Why Should You Sell HUBG?

  1. Flat unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

At $34.58 per share, Hub Group trades at 16.3x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HUBG.

GE HealthCare (GEHC)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.25

Spun off from industrial giant General Electric in 2023 after over a century as its healthcare division, GE HealthCare (NASDAQ: GEHC) provides medical imaging equipment, patient monitoring systems, diagnostic pharmaceuticals, and AI-enabled healthcare solutions to hospitals and clinics worldwide.

Why Does GEHC Give Us Pause?

  1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
  2. Incremental sales over the last four years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 3.7% annually while its revenue grew
  3. Free cash flow margin shrank by 9.6 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

GE HealthCare’s stock price of $72.19 implies a valuation ratio of 17.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why GEHC doesn’t pass our bar.

Texas Capital Bank (TCBI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.06

Founded during the Texas banking renaissance of the 1990s with an entrepreneurial spirit, Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBI) is a financial services firm that provides banking, wealth management, and investment banking services to businesses and individuals across Texas and beyond.

Why Are We Wary of TCBI?

  1. 2.2% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was slower than its bank peers
  2. Net interest margin of 3.1% reflects its high servicing and capital costs
  3. Earnings per share fell by 11.1% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable

Texas Capital Bank is trading at $80.17 per share, or 1.1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with TCBI, check out our full research report (it’s free).

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "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 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-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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