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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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

1 Cash-Producing Stock with Exciting Potential and 2 We Avoid

BL Cover Image

A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner. Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.

Not all companies are created equal, and StockStory is here to surface the ones with real upside. Keeping that in mind, here is one cash-producing company that excels at turning cash into shareholder value and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

BlackLine (BL)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 21.3%

Started in 2001 by software engineer Therese Tucker, one of the very few women founders who took their companies public, BlackLine (NASDAQ: BL) provides software for organizations to automate accounting and finance tasks.

Why Is BL Not Exciting?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 12.5% annual growth was below the typical software company
  2. Offerings struggled to generate meaningful interest as its average billings growth of 7.2% over the last year did not impress
  3. Estimated sales growth of 8.2% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend

BlackLine’s stock price of $51.21 implies a valuation ratio of 4.4x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with BL, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Darden (DRI)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 8.8%

Founded in 1968 as Red Lobster, Darden (NYSE: DRI) is a leading American restaurant company that owns and operates a portfolio of popular restaurant brands.

Why Are We Cautious About DRI?

  1. Sizable revenue base leads to growth challenges as its 6% annual revenue increases over the last six years fell short of other restaurant companies
  2. Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its menu offerings and dining experience
  3. Challenging supply chain dynamics and bad unit economics are reflected in its low gross margin of 21.5%

Darden is trading at $206.06 per share, or 19.2x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why DRI doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

AbbVie (ABBV)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 31.3%

Born from a 2013 spinoff of Abbott Laboratories' pharmaceutical business, AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets medications for autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and other complex health conditions.

Why Are We Fans of ABBV?

  1. Massive revenue base of $58.33 billion in a highly regulated sector makes the company difficult to replace, giving it meaningful negotiating power
  2. Strong free cash flow margin of 36.6% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently
  3. Market-beating returns on capital illustrate that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures

At $204.70 per share, AbbVie trades at 15.5x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive 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 5 Strong Momentum 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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