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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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 Cash-Producing Stocks We Steer Clear Of

BOX Cover Image

A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner. Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.

Cash flow is valuable, but it’s not everything - StockStory helps you identify the companies that truly put it to work. That said, here are three cash-producing companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Box (BOX)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 27.2%

Known as the "Content Cloud" for managing the 90% of business data that exists as unstructured files and documents, Box (NYSE: BOX) provides a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to securely manage, share, and collaborate on their content from anywhere on any device.

Why Is BOX Not Exciting?

  1. 6.6% annual revenue growth over the last three years was slower than its software peers
  2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 7.9%
  3. Capital intensity will likely ramp up in the next year as its free cash flow margin is expected to contract by 1.5 percentage points

At $31.60 per share, Box trades at 4x forward price-to-sales. If you’re considering BOX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Macy's (M)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 1.1%

With a storied history that began with its 1858 founding, Macy’s (NYSE: M) is a department store chain that sells clothing, cosmetics, accessories, and home goods.

Why Are We Out on M?

  1. Poor same-store sales performance over the past two years indicates it’s having trouble bringing new shoppers into its brick-and-mortar locations
  2. Projected sales decline of 4.3% over the next 12 months indicates demand will continue deteriorating
  3. Subpar operating margin of 2.3% constrains its ability to invest in process improvements or effectively respond to new competitive threats

Macy's is trading at $12.86 per share, or 6.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why M doesn’t pass our bar.

Allient (ALNT)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 10.7%

Founded in 1962, Allient (NASDAQ: ALNT) develops and manufactures precision and specialty-controlled motion components and systems.

Why Are We Hesitant About ALNT?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 3.5% annually over the last two years
  2. Performance over the past two years was negatively impacted by new share issuances as its earnings per share dropped by 12.6% annually, worse than its revenue
  3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Allient’s stock price of $43.56 implies a valuation ratio of 20.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ALNT in your portfolio.

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 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

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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