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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The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

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If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

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 Volatile Stocks We’re Skeptical Of

BASE Cover Image

A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.

These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. That said, here are three volatile stocks best left to the gamblers and some better opportunities instead.

Couchbase (BASE)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.37

Named after its fusion of Apache CouchDB and Membase technologies, Couchbase (NASDAQ: BASE) provides a modern cloud database platform that combines the reliability of traditional relational databases with the flexibility and scalability of NoSQL systems.

Why Are We Cautious About BASE?

  1. Offerings struggled to generate meaningful interest as its average billings growth of 6.6% over the last year did not impress
  2. Long payback periods on sales and marketing expenses limit customer growth and signal the company operates in a highly competitive environment
  3. Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value

At $24.34 per share, Couchbase trades at 5.5x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BASE doesn’t pass our bar.

Commercial Vehicle Group (CVGI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.49

Formed from a partnership between two distinct companies, CVG (NASDAQ: CVGI) offers various components used in vehicles and systems used in warehouses.

Why Do We Think CVGI Will Underperform?

  1. Annual sales declines of 1.5% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
  2. Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
  3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

Commercial Vehicle Group’s stock price of $1.89 implies a valuation ratio of 27.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering CVGI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Tilray (TLRY)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.29

Founded in 2013, Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY) engages in cannabis research, cultivation, and distribution, offering a range of medical and recreational cannabis products, hemp-based foods, and alcoholic beverages.

Why Should You Dump TLRY?

  1. Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last year, causing its operating margin to decline by 255.8 percentage points
  2. Performance over the past three years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 32.4% annually
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 8.1 percentage points over the last year, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

Tilray is trading at $1.04 per share, or 14.4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than TLRY.

Stocks We Like More

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our 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

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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