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

1 Profitable Stock with Promising Prospects and 2 We Find Risky

LZ Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. Keeping that in mind, here is one profitable company that balances growth and profitability and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Dole (DOLE)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 2.7%

Known for its delicious pineapples and Hawaiian roots, Dole (NYSE: DOLE) is a global agricultural company specializing in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Why Are We Hesitant About DOLE?

  1. Sales were flat over the last three years, indicating it’s failed to expand its business
  2. Easily substituted products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 8.4% that must be offset through higher volumes
  3. Subpar operating margin of 2.8% constrains its ability to invest in process improvements or effectively respond to new competitive threats

Dole’s stock price of $14.10 implies a valuation ratio of 10.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than DOLE.

Charles River Laboratories (CRL)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3.1%

Named after the Massachusetts river where it was founded in 1947, Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) provides non-clinical drug development services, research models, and manufacturing support to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Why Do We Think Twice About CRL?

  1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
  2. Projected sales for the next 12 months are flat and suggest demand will be subdued
  3. Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value

Charles River Laboratories is trading at $155.80 per share, or 15.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CRL doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

LegalZoom (LZ)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5%

Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses.

Why Do We Like LZ?

  1. Subscription Units are rising, meaning the company can increase revenue without incurring additional customer acquisition costs if it can cross-sell additional products and features
  2. Share repurchases over the last three years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 177% to outpace its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin jumped by 14.9 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends

At $10.88 per share, LegalZoom trades at 10.8x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth 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 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-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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