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 Low-Volatility Stocks That Concern Us

SMPL Cover Image

Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.

Choosing the wrong investments can cause you to fall behind, which is why we started StockStory - to separate the winners from the losers. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Simply Good Foods (SMPL)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.62

Best known for its Atkins brand that was inspired by the popular diet of the same name, Simply Good Foods (NASDAQ: SMPL) is a packaged food company whose offerings help customers achieve their healthy eating or weight loss goals.

Why Does SMPL Worry Us?

  1. Revenue base of $1.46 billion puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
  2. Estimated sales growth of 1.5% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
  3. Free cash flow margin shrank by 5.5 percentage points over the last year, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

Simply Good Foods is trading at $29.40 per share, or 14.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than SMPL.

Chemed (CHE)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.34

With a unique business model combining end-of-life care and household services, Chemed (NYSE: CHE) operates two distinct businesses: VITAS, which provides hospice care for terminally ill patients, and Roto-Rooter, which offers plumbing and water restoration services.

Why Are We Hesitant About CHE?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 4.4% over the last five years was below our standards for the healthcare sector
  2. Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last five years, causing its adjusted operating margin to decline by 2.7 percentage points
  3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Chemed’s stock price of $456 implies a valuation ratio of 18.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering CHE for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

CNO Financial Group (CNO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.89

Rebranded from Conseco in 2010 to signal a fresh start after navigating financial challenges, CNO Financial Group (NYSE: CNO) develops and markets health insurance, annuities, and life insurance products primarily targeting middle-income pre-retirees and retirees.

Why Does CNO Fall Short?

  1. Stagnant net premiums earned over the last five years suggest the firm needs alternative growth strategies
  2. Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last four years as its pre-tax profit margin fell by 7.3 percentage points
  3. Book value per share tumbled by 4.9% annually over the last five years, showing insurance sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle

At $39 per share, CNO Financial Group trades at 1.4x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CNO 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-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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