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

3 Russell 2000 Stocks Walking a Fine Line

BARK Cover Image

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. Keeping that in mind, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to steer clear of and some alternatives to watch instead.

Bark (BARK)

Market Cap: $137.6 million

Making a name for itself with the BarkBox, Bark (NYSE: BARK) specializes in subscription-based, personalized pet products.

Why Are We Out on BARK?

  1. Products and services aren't resonating with the market as its revenue declined by 5.3% annually over the last two years
  2. Poor free cash flow margin of -0.9% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
  3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

At $0.83 per share, Bark trades at 121x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BARK.

Belden (BDC)

Market Cap: $4.92 billion

With its enamel-coated copper wire used in WWI for the Allied forces, Belden (NYSE: BDC) designs, manufactures, and sells electronic components to various industries.

Why Does BDC Fall Short?

  1. Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last two years
  2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 5%
  3. Flat earnings per share over the last two years underperformed the sector average

Belden is trading at $124.18 per share, or 16.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering BDC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Orion (ORN)

Market Cap: $261.9 million

Established in 1994, Orion (NYSE: ORN) provides construction services for marine infrastructure and industrial projects.

Why Do We Steer Clear of ORN?

  1. Backlog has dropped by 1.7% on average over the past two years, suggesting it’s losing orders as competition picks up
  2. Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 9.3%
  3. Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model

Orion’s stock price of $6.59 implies a valuation ratio of 27.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ORN, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Stocks We Like More

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 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-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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