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

5 Revealing Analyst Questions From Sea’s Q2 Earnings Call

SE Cover Image

Sea’s second quarter results were well received by the market, reflecting significant momentum in its core businesses. Management attributed the strong revenue growth to Shopee’s increased order frequency and buyer engagement, as well as expanding digital financial services. CEO Forrest Li highlighted that “all 3 of our businesses have delivered robust healthy growth,” citing Shopee’s continued leadership in Asia and Brazil and improved profitability across segments. Shopee’s advancements in advertising technology and logistics, alongside Garena’s sustained user base for Free Fire, were called out as central to the quarter’s performance.

Is now the time to buy SE? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

Sea (SE) Q2 CY2025 Highlights:

  • Revenue: $5.26 billion vs analyst estimates of $5.01 billion (31.6% year-on-year growth, 5% beat)
  • Adjusted EPS: $0.84 vs analyst expectations of $0.88 (4.2% miss)
  • Adjusted EBITDA: $829.2 million vs analyst estimates of $794 million (15.8% margin, 4.4% beat)
  • Operating Margin: 9.3%, up from 2.1% in the same quarter last year
  • Paying Users: 61.8 million, up 9.3 million year on year
  • Market Capitalization: $104.9 billion

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Sea’s Q2 Earnings Call

  • Pang Vittayaamnuaykoon (Goldman Sachs) asked if the strong e-commerce growth would lead to revised full-year guidance. CFO Tony Hou confirmed current momentum should continue, with full-year growth “better than what we shared before.”

  • Piyush Choudhary (HSBC) inquired about the Shopee VIP program’s scalability and cost implications. Hou responded that while there is early-stage investment, long-term cost impact should be limited, and VIP expansion should support higher profitability.

  • Alicia Yap (Citigroup) questioned competitive threats in Brazil from new entrants and higher-ticket items. Hou stated that newcomers remain small players due to tax structure and Shopee’s focus on logistics and pricing keeps it well-positioned.

  • Divya Kothiyal (Morgan Stanley) asked about take rate upside and seller response to increased commissions. Hou noted that seller response has been reasonable and that take rates could continue to rise due to ongoing ad tech improvements.

  • Thomas Chong (Jefferies) requested updates on new games and AI’s impact on gaming. CEO Forrest Li said new titles are still in early stages but highlighted AI’s role in increasing development efficiency and enhancing gamer engagement.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the adoption and expansion of Shopee’s VIP membership and instant delivery services across new markets, (2) Sea Money’s continued growth in digital lending and its penetration in Brazil and other emerging markets, and (3) further evidence that AI-powered advertising and content tools can drive incremental engagement and monetization. Progress in Garena’s content pipeline and the impact of new collaborations will also be key markers of execution.

Sea currently trades at $177.20, up from $146.45 just before the earnings. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? See for yourself in 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 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.

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.