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

2 Surging Stocks with Exciting Potential and 1 We Brush Off

FTAI Cover Image

Exciting developments are taking place for the stocks in this article. They’ve all surged ahead of the broader market over the last month as catalysts such as new products and positive media coverage have propelled their returns.

While momentum can be a leading indicator, it has burned many investors as it doesn’t always correlate with long-term success. On that note, here are two stocks we think live up to the hype and one best left ignored.

One Momentum Stock to Sell:

Cognex (CGNX)

One-Month Return: +31.4%

Founded in 1981 when computer vision was in its infancy, Cognex (NASDAQ: CGNX) develops machine vision systems and software that help manufacturers and logistics companies automate quality inspection and tracking of products.

Why Is CGNX Not Exciting?

  1. Muted 2% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its business services peers
  2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 15.8 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
  3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

At $44.79 per share, Cognex trades at 45.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CGNX.

Two Momentum Stocks to Buy:

FTAI Aviation (FTAI)

One-Month Return: +26.3%

With a focus on the CFM56 engine that powers Boeing and Airbus’s planes, FTAI Aviation (NASDAQ: FTAI) sells, leases, maintains, and repairs aircraft engines.

Why Is FTAI a Top Pick?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 41.4% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 67% annually, topping its revenue gains
  3. Cash burn has decreased over the last five years, showing the company is becoming a more self-sustaining business

FTAI Aviation’s stock price of $148.03 implies a valuation ratio of 27.2x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Insulet (PODD)

One-Month Return: +14.9%

Revolutionizing diabetes care with its tubeless "Pod" technology, Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) develops and manufactures innovative insulin delivery systems for people with diabetes, primarily through its Omnipod product line.

Why Are We Bullish on PODD?

  1. Steady constant currency growth over the past two years shows the company can pursue its global ambitions, even in uncertain economic times
  2. Free cash flow margin expanded by 25.4 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
  3. Returns on capital are climbing as management makes more lucrative bets

Insulet is trading at $333.50 per share, or 69.7x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? 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-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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