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.

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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 Russell 2000 Stock on Our Watchlist and 2 We Ignore

GATX Cover Image

Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 (^RUT) can be a goldmine for investors looking beyond the usual large-cap names. But with less stability and fewer resources than their bigger counterparts, these companies face steeper challenges in scaling their businesses.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here is one Russell 2000 stock that could be the next big thing and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

GATX (GATX)

Market Cap: $5.70 billion

Originally founded to ship beer, GATX (NYSE: GATX) provides leasing and management services for railcars and other transportation assets globally.

Why Does GATX Worry Us?

  1. Number of active railcars has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
  2. Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model
  3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

GATX’s stock price of $159.96 implies a valuation ratio of 17.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GATX in your portfolio.

Jackson Financial (JXN)

Market Cap: $6.71 billion

Spun off from British insurer Prudential plc in 2021 after more than 60 years as its U.S. subsidiary, Jackson Financial (NYSE: JXN) offers annuity products and retirement solutions that help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings and income.

Why Do We Think Twice About JXN?

  1. 2.8% annualized net premiums earned growth over the last two years lagged behind its insurance peers
  2. Efficiency has decreased over the last four years as its pre-tax profit margin fell by 33.9 percentage points
  3. Earnings per share have dipped by 9.9% annually over the past three years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term

Jackson Financial is trading at $96.29 per share, or 0.6x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why JXN doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)

Market Cap: $2.43 billion

Tracing its roots back to 1863 during the Civil War era, First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC) is a bank holding company that provides commercial banking, lending, deposit services, and wealth management to individuals and businesses.

Why Does FFBC Stand Out?

  1. Performance over the past five years was boosted by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
  2. Annual tangible book value per share growth of 17% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting strong capital accumulation this cycle
  3. Industry-leading 10% return on equity demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments

At $25.42 per share, First Financial Bancorp trades at 0.9x forward P/B. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full 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 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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