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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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

3 Profitable Stocks That Fall Short

RAMP 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Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.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.

Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. Keeping that in mind, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

LiveRamp (RAMP)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 2.3%

Serving as the digital middleman in an increasingly privacy-conscious world, LiveRamp (NYSE: RAMP) provides technology that helps companies securely share and connect their customer data with trusted partners while maintaining privacy compliance.

Why Are We Wary of RAMP?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 11.5% over the last three years was below our standards for the software sector
  2. ARR growth averaged a weak 8.9% over the last year, suggesting that competition is pulling some attention away from its software
  3. Estimated sales growth of 7.8% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend

At $26.63 per share, LiveRamp trades at 2.2x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with RAMP, check out our full research report (it’s free).

The Honest Company (HNST)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 1.1%

Co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, The Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST) sells diapers and wipes, skin care products, and household cleaning products.

Why Do We Avoid HNST?

  1. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $389.8 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
  2. 6.6 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last year reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
  3. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business

The Honest Company is trading at $3.81 per share, or 14.5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HNST.

Acadia Healthcare (ACHC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 10%

With a network of over 250 facilities serving patients in 38 states and Puerto Rico, Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ: ACHC) operates facilities providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment services across the United States.

Why Are We Cautious About ACHC?

  1. Disappointing admissions over the past two years imply it may need to invest in improvements to get back on track
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 24.8 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results

Acadia Healthcare’s stock price of $20.40 implies a valuation ratio of 7.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering ACHC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like 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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