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.

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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

1 Consumer Stock to Target This Week and 2 We Find Risky

BF.B Cover Image

Consumer staples stocks are solid insurance policies in frothy markets ripe for corrections. But they’re also double-edged swords as they often lag in booming conditions, and this pattern has persisted recently. Over the past six months, the industry has recorded a loss of 4.4%, a far cry from the S&P 500’s 6.2% ascent.

Only some companies are subject to these dynamics, however, and a handful of high-quality businesses can deliver earnings growth in any environment. Taking that into account, here is one consumer stock boasting a durable advantage and two we’re swiping left on.

Two Consumer Staples Stocks to Sell:

Brown-Forman (BF.B)

Market Cap: $14.38 billion

Best known for its Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF.B) is an alcoholic beverage company with a broad portfolio of brands in wines and spirits.

Why Is BF.B Not Exciting?

  1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
  2. Projected sales decline of 3% for the next 12 months points to an even tougher demand environment ahead
  3. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last year as its operating margin fell by 6 percentage points

At $30.43 per share, Brown-Forman trades at 15.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering BF.B for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Freshpet (FRPT)

Market Cap: $2.97 billion

Standing out from typical processed pet foods, Freshpet (NASDAQ: FRPT) is a pet food company whose product portfolio includes natural meals and treats for dogs and cats.

Why Are We Hesitant About FRPT?

  1. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $1.04 billion, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
  2. Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value
  3. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction

Freshpet’s stock price of $61.45 implies a valuation ratio of 39.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than FRPT.

One Consumer Staples Stock to Buy:

e.l.f. Beauty (ELF)

Market Cap: $7.14 billion

Short for "eyes, lips, face", e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is a developer of high-quality beauty products at accessible price points.

Why Is ELF a Top Pick?

  1. Remarkable 47.6% revenue growth over the last three years demonstrates its ability to capture significant market share
  2. Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last three years, increasing by 48.6% annually
  3. Free cash flow margin jumped by 6.5 percentage points over the last year, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends

e.l.f. Beauty is trading at $121 per share, or 30.8x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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 Exlservice (+354% 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

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