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

3 Mid-Cap Stocks That Concern Us

APG Cover Image

Mid-cap stocks have the best odds of scaling into $100 billion corporations thanks to their tested business models and large addressable markets. But the many opportunities in front of them attract significant competition, spanning from industry behemoths with seemingly infinite resources to small, nimble players with chips on their shoulders.

These dynamics can rattle even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. That said, here are three mid-cap stocks to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

APi (APG)

Market Cap: $14.91 billion

Started in 1926 as an insulation contractor, APi (NYSE: APG) provides life safety solutions and specialty services for buildings and infrastructure.

Why Does APG Worry Us?

  1. Muted 4.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
  2. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  3. Underwhelming 3.3% return on capital reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

APi’s stock price of $35.63 implies a valuation ratio of 24x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than APG.

Nordson (NDSN)

Market Cap: $12.52 billion

Founded in 1954, Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ: NDSN) manufactures dispensing equipment and industrial adhesives, sealants and coatings.

Why Should You Dump NDSN?

  1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
  2. Earnings per share were flat over the last two years and fell short of the peer group average
  3. 5.1 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

At $223.68 per share, Nordson trades at 21.3x forward P/E. If you’re considering NDSN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)

Market Cap: $12.56 billion

Operating behind the scenes of the insurance industry since 1973, Reinsurance Group of America (NYSE: RGA) provides life and health reinsurance services to insurance companies, helping them manage risk and meet regulatory requirements.

Why Are We Cautious About RGA?

  1. Products and services are facing profitability challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat book value per share over the last five years
  2. Estimated book value per share growth of 1.4% for the next 12 months implies profitability will slow from its two-year trend
  3. Below-average return on equity indicates management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

Reinsurance Group of America is trading at $189.97 per share, or 1x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why RGA doesn’t pass our bar.

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 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 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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