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 Russell 2000 Stocks We Keep Off Our Radar

ALRM Cover Image

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential. However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.

Picking the right small caps isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why StockStory exists - to help you focus on the best opportunities. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks that don’t make the cut and some better choices instead.

Alarm.com (ALRM)

Market Cap: $2.93 billion

Processing over 325 billion data points annually from more than 150 million connected devices, Alarm.com (NASDAQ: ALRM) provides cloud-based platforms that enable residential and commercial property owners to remotely monitor and control their security, video, energy, and other connected devices.

Why Does ALRM Give Us Pause?

  1. Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 7.4% average billings growth over the last year was weak
  2. Estimated sales growth of 3.7% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
  3. High servicing costs result in a relatively inferior gross margin of 65.8% that must be offset through increased usage

At $58.75 per share, Alarm.com trades at 3.5x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ALRM doesn’t pass our bar.

Gibraltar (ROCK)

Market Cap: $1.89 billion

Gibraltar (NASDAQ: ROCK) makes renewable energy, agriculture technology and infrastructure products. Its mission statement is to make everyday living more sustainable.

Why Do We Think Twice About ROCK?

  1. Sales tumbled by 5.4% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. High input costs result in an inferior gross margin of 25.4% that must be offset through higher volumes

Gibraltar’s stock price of $64.06 implies a valuation ratio of 12.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ROCK in your portfolio.

Banner Bank (BANR)

Market Cap: $2.33 billion

Founded in 1890 in Walla Walla, Washington, and evolving through more than a century of economic cycles, Banner Corporation (NASDAQ: BANR) operates Banner Bank, providing commercial banking services, loans, and financial products to individuals and businesses across Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Utah.

Why Are We Wary of BANR?

  1. Sales stagnated over the last two years and signal the need for new growth strategies
  2. Muted 3.6% annual net interest income growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its banking peers
  3. Sales over the last two years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 7.9% annually while its revenue was flat

Banner Bank is trading at $67.26 per share, or 1.2x forward P/B. If you’re considering BANR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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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