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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Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

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

2 S&P 500 Stocks for Long-Term Investors and 1 That Underwhelm

AVGO Cover Image

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition.

Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. That said, here are two S&P 500 stocks leading the market forward and one that may struggle.

One Stock to Sell:

M&T Bank (MTB)

Market Cap: $30.92 billion

Tracing its roots back to 1856 when it was founded as Manufacturers and Traders Bank in Buffalo, New York, M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) is a regional bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking, trust, wealth management, and investment services to consumers and businesses.

Why Does MTB Give Us Pause?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 1.8% annually over the last two years
  2. Estimated net interest income growth of 5.5% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its five-year trend
  3. Concessions to defend its market share have ramped up over the last two years as its net interest margin decreased by 24.3 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point)

M&T Bank is trading at $198.40 per share, or 1.2x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MTB in your portfolio.

Two Stocks to Buy:

Broadcom (AVGO)

Market Cap: $1.38 trillion

Originally the semiconductor division of Hewlett Packard, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a semiconductor conglomerate spanning wireless communications, networking, and data storage as well as infrastructure software focused on mainframes and cybersecurity.

Why Will AVGO Outperform?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 27.6% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Offerings are difficult to replicate at scale and result in a best-in-class gross margin of 75.8%
  3. Strong free cash flow margin of 41.3% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently

Broadcom’s stock price of $294.11 implies a valuation ratio of 40.6x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

UnitedHealth (UNH)

Market Cap: $276.1 billion

With over 100 million people served across its various businesses and a workforce of more than 400,000, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) operates a health insurance business and Optum, a healthcare services division that provides everything from pharmacy benefits to primary care.

Why Is UNH a Good Business?

  1. Enormous revenue base of $422.8 billion gives it leverage over plan holders and advantageous reimbursement terms with healthcare providers
  2. Projected revenue growth of 8.4% for the next 12 months suggests its momentum from the last two years will persist
  3. Market-beating returns on capital illustrate that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures

At $304.72 per share, UnitedHealth trades at 14.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

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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