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

2 Volatile Stocks for Long-Term Investors and 1 That Underwhelm

NCNO Cover Image

Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains. This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.

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 two volatile stocks that could deliver huge gains and one that could just as easily collapse.

One Stock to Sell:

nCino (NCNO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.36

Founded in 2011 in North Carolina, nCino (NASDAQ: NCNO) makes cloud-based operating systems for banks and provides that software-as-a-service.

Why Does NCNO Worry Us?

  1. Estimated sales growth of 5.9% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
  2. Gross margin of 60.1% is below its competitors, leaving less money to invest in areas like marketing and R&D
  3. Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses

At $28.50 per share, nCino trades at 5.6x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NCNO.

Two Stocks to Watch:

FTAI Infrastructure (FIP)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.76

Spun off from FTAI Aviation in 2021, FTAI Infrastructure (NASDAQ: FIP) invests in and operates infrastructure and related assets across the transportation and energy sectors.

Why Are We Fans of FIP?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 57.1% over the last four years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Market share is on track to rise over the next 12 months as its 69.2% projected revenue growth implies demand will accelerate from its two-year trend

FTAI Infrastructure’s stock price of $4.95 implies a valuation ratio of 1.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

QuinStreet (QNST)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.36

Founded during the dot-com era in 1999 and specializing in high-intent consumer traffic, QuinStreet (NASDAQ: QNST) operates digital performance marketplaces that connect clients in financial and home services with consumers actively searching for their products.

Why Are We Bullish on QNST?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 37.2% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
  2. Forecasted revenue growth of 7.5% for the next 12 months indicates its momentum over the last two years is sustainable
  3. Earnings growth has trumped its peers over the last two years as its EPS has compounded at 160% annually

QuinStreet is trading at $15.32 per share, or 14.4x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

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 6 Stocks for this week. 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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