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 Stocks Under $50 We Find Risky

STNG Cover Image

The $10-50 price range often includes mid-sized businesses with proven track records and plenty of growth runway ahead. They also usually carry less risk than penny stocks, though they’re not immune to volatility as many lack the scale advantages of their larger peers.

This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. That said, here are three stocks under $50 to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.

Scorpio Tankers (STNG)

Share Price: $46.79

Operating one of the youngest fleets in the industry, Scorpio Tankers (NYSE: STNG) is an international provider of marine transportation services, specializing in the shipment of refined petroleum.

Why Is STNG Not Exciting?

  1. Sales tumbled by 1.5% annually over the last five years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Number of total vessels has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
  3. Earnings per share have dipped by 41.5% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term

Scorpio Tankers’s stock price of $46.79 implies a valuation ratio of 7.6x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including STNG in your portfolio.

Kforce (KFRC)

Share Price: $32

With nearly 60 years of matching skilled professionals with the right opportunities, Kforce (NYSE: KFRC) is a professional staffing company that specializes in placing technology and finance experts with businesses on both temporary and permanent bases.

Why Do We Steer Clear of KFRC?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 9.2% annually over the last two years
  2. Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 13.8% annually, worse than its revenue
  3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

At $32 per share, Kforce trades at 13.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering KFRC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Atlantic Union Bankshares (AUB)

Share Price: $33.61

Tracing its roots back to 1902 when it first opened its doors in Virginia, Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB) is a full-service regional bank providing commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and insurance services throughout Virginia and parts of Maryland and North Carolina.

Why Does AUB Fall Short?

  1. Net interest margin of 3.4% is well below other banks, signaling its loans aren’t very profitable
  2. Products and services are facing profitability challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat tangible book value per share over the last five years
  3. Projected tangible book value per share growth of 6.5% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish capital generation

Atlantic Union Bankshares is trading at $33.61 per share, or 1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with AUB, check out our full research report (it’s free).

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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-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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