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

1 Profitable Stock with Impressive Fundamentals and 2 Facing Challenges

BBCP Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here is one profitable company that leverages its financial strength to beat the competition and two best left off your watchlist.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Concrete Pumping (BBCP)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11.9%

Going public via SPAC in 2018, Concrete Pumping (NASDAQ: BBCP) is a provider of concrete pumping and waste management services in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Why Is BBCP Risky?

  1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
  2. Forecasted revenue decline of 3.1% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall even further
  3. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term

Concrete Pumping’s stock price of $6.71 implies a valuation ratio of 16.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BBCP doesn’t pass our bar.

Main Street Capital (MAIN)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 64.7%

With a focus on building long-term partnerships rather than quick transactions, Main Street Capital (NYSE: MAIN) is a business development company that provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market and middle market companies.

Why Does MAIN Fall Short?

  1. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were less profitable, as its 1.7% annual earnings per share growth trailed its revenue gains

Main Street Capital is trading at $65.57 per share, or 16.9x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with MAIN, check out our full research report (it’s free).

One Stock to Buy:

Nextracker (NXT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 21.4%

With its technology playing a key role in the massive 1.2 gigawatt Noor Abu Dhabi solar farm project, Nextracker (NASDAQ: NXT) is a provider of solar tracker systems that help solar panels follow the sun.

Why Will NXT Outperform?

  1. Sales pipeline is in good shape as its backlog averaged 41.7% growth over the past two years
  2. Free cash flow margin increased by 13.7 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders
  3. Improving returns on capital reflect management’s ability to monetize investments

At $66.26 per share, Nextracker trades at 17x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

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 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 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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