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.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

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

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

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 Hyped Up Stocks with Questionable Fundamentals

REAL Cover Image

Exciting developments are taking place for the stocks in this article. They’ve all surged ahead of the broader market over the last month as catalysts such as new products and positive media coverage have propelled their returns.

However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. All that said, here are three stocks getting more buzz than they deserve and some you should buy instead.

The RealReal (REAL)

One-Month Return: +35.9%

Founded by consignment store aficionado Julie Wainwright, The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL) is an online marketplace for buying and selling secondhand luxury goods.

Why Are We Hesitant About REAL?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 4.1% annual growth was below the typical consumer internet company
  2. Customer spending has dipped by 11.7% on average as it focused on growing its users
  3. Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders

The RealReal’s stock price of $8.03 implies a valuation ratio of 26.6x forward EV/EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with REAL, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Teradyne (TER)

One-Month Return: +17%

Sporting most major chip manufacturers as its customers, Teradyne (NASDAQ: TER) is a US-based supplier of automated test equipment for semiconductors as well as other technologies and devices.

Why Does TER Fall Short?

  1. Sales were flat over the last five years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
  2. Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 14.4 percentage points
  3. Sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 4.4% annually while its revenue was flat

At $110.98 per share, Teradyne trades at 27.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why TER doesn’t pass our bar.

Artivion (AORT)

One-Month Return: +39.8%

Formerly known as CryoLife until its 2022 rebranding, Artivion (NYSE: AORT) develops and manufactures medical devices and preserves human tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures for patients with aortic disease.

Why Does AORT Worry Us?

  1. Revenue base of $405 million puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
  2. Poor free cash flow margin of -0.6% for the last five years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
  3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

Artivion is trading at $42.85 per share, or 57.3x forward P/E. If you’re considering AORT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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 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-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.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.