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

3 Small-Cap Stocks That Concern Us

SSD Cover Image

Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they’re frequently overlooked by Wall Street. Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets.

These trade-offs can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. Keeping that in mind, here are three small-cap stocks to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Simpson (SSD)

Market Cap: $8.20 billion

Aiming to build safer and stronger buildings, Simpson (NYSE: SSD) designs and manufactures structural connectors, anchors, and other construction products.

Why Do We Think Twice About SSD?

  1. Muted 2.6% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 10.7 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Simpson’s stock price of $197.08 implies a valuation ratio of 23.3x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SSD in your portfolio.

Fulton Financial (FULT)

Market Cap: $3.58 billion

Tracing its roots back to 1882 in the heart of Pennsylvania, Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) is a financial holding company that provides banking, lending, and wealth management services to consumers and businesses across five Mid-Atlantic states.

Why Is FULT Not Exciting?

  1. Estimated net interest income growth of 1.9% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its five-year trend
  2. Projected 2.8 percentage point efficiency ratio increase over the next year signals its day-to-day expenses will rise
  3. 4.3% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last five years was slower than its banking peers

At $19.64 per share, Fulton Financial trades at 1.1x forward P/B. If you’re considering FULT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR)

Market Cap: $2.27 billion

With roots dating back to 2003 and a focus on the stability of multifamily housing, Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE: ABR) is a specialized lender that provides financing solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate while also originating and servicing government-backed mortgage loans.

Why Do We Steer Clear of ABR?

  1. Sales tumbled by 8.7% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Tangible book value per share tumbled by 3.3% annually over the last two years, showing banking sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle

Arbor Realty Trust is trading at $11.87 per share, or 1x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ABR doesn’t pass our bar.

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 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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