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.

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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 Industrials Stocks We’re Skeptical Of

BBCP Cover Image

Industrials businesses quietly power the physical things we depend on, from cars and homes to e-commerce infrastructure. But their prominence also brings high exposure to the ups and downs of economic cycles. Luckily, the tide is turning in their favor as the industry’s 7.5% return over the past six months has topped the S&P 500 by 2.1 percentage points.

Nevertheless, investors must be mindful as the cycle can unexpectedly turn. When this inevitably happens, only the elite companies will survive and ultimately thrive. On that note, here are three industrials stocks we’re passing on.

Concrete Pumping (BBCP)

Market Cap: $356.9 million

Going public via SPAC in 2018, Concrete Pumping (NASDAQ: BBCP) is a provider of concrete pumping and waste management services in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Why Should You Sell BBCP?

  1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  2. Projected sales decline of 3.1% over the next 12 months indicates demand will continue deteriorating
  3. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term

At $6.99 per share, Concrete Pumping trades at 16.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with BBCP, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Otis (OTIS)

Market Cap: $34.36 billion

Credited with inventing the first hydraulic passenger elevator, Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS) is an elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

Why Are We Hesitant About OTIS?

  1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 4.1%
  3. 1.9 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

Otis’s stock price of $87.97 implies a valuation ratio of 20.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including OTIS in your portfolio.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW)

Market Cap: $14.35 billion

Engaging in contracts with tens of thousands of transportation companies, C.H. Robinson (NASDAQ: CHRW) offers freight transportation and logistics services.

Why Do We Steer Clear of CHRW?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 8% annually over the last two years
  2. Gross margin of 7.3% reflects its high production costs
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

C.H. Robinson Worldwide is trading at $121.52 per share, or 24.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering CHRW for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like More

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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 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

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