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.

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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 Small-Cap Stock to Own for Decades and 2 We Turn Down

RELY Cover Image

Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on. But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.

The downside that can come from buying these securities is precisely why we started StockStory - to isolate the long-term winners from the losers so you can invest with confidence. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could be the next big thing and two best left ignored.

Two Small-Cap Stocks to Sell:

Exact Sciences (EXAS)

Market Cap: $7.90 billion

With a mission to detect cancer earlier when it's more treatable, Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: EXAS) develops and markets cancer screening and diagnostic tests, including its flagship Cologuard stool-based colorectal cancer screening test.

Why Does EXAS Fall Short?

  1. Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model
  2. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business

Exact Sciences’s stock price of $41.78 implies a valuation ratio of 56.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why EXAS doesn’t pass our bar.

Butterfield Bank (NTB)

Market Cap: $1.85 billion

Founded in 1784 as one of the oldest banks in the Western Hemisphere, Butterfield Bank (NYSE: NTB) provides banking, wealth management, and trust services to individuals and businesses in select offshore financial centers including Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Channel Islands.

Why Do We Think Twice About NTB?

  1. Muted 1.4% annual net interest income growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its banking peers
  2. Projected net interest income decline of 42.5% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead
  3. Net interest margin of 2.7% reflects its high servicing and capital costs

At $45.09 per share, Butterfield Bank trades at 1.6x forward P/B. If you’re considering NTB for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Small-Cap Stock to Buy:

Remitly (RELY)

Market Cap: $4 billion

With Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as an early investor, Remitly (NASDAQ: RELY) is an online platform that enables consumers to safely and quickly send money globally.

Why Should You Buy RELY?

  1. Has the opportunity to boost monetization through new features and premium offerings as its active customers have grown by 34.5% annually over the last two years
  2. Incremental sales over the last three years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 76.4% annually, topping its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin expanded by 33.7 percentage points over the last few years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends

Remitly is trading at $19.37 per share, or 18x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our 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-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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