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 Profitable Stocks with Questionable Fundamentals

LANC Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. Keeping that in mind, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Lancaster Colony (LANC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11.8%

Known for its frozen garlic bread and Parkerhouse rolls, Lancaster Colony (NASDAQ: LANC) sells bread, dressing, and dips to the retail and food service channels.

Why Are We Cautious About LANC?

  1. Lackluster 5.4% annual revenue growth over the last three years indicates the company is losing ground to competitors
  2. Modest revenue base of $1.89 billion gives it less fixed cost leverage and fewer distribution channels than larger companies
  3. Gross margin of 23.3% is an output of its commoditized products

At $172.87 per share, Lancaster Colony trades at 24.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering LANC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Enphase (ENPH)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11.7%

The first company to successfully commercialize the solar micro-inverter, Enphase (NASDAQ: ENPH) manufactures software-driven home energy products.

Why Are We Hesitant About ENPH?

  1. Declining unit sales over the past two years suggest it might have to lower prices to accelerate growth
  2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 12 percentage points
  3. Earnings per share have contracted by 27.3% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance

Enphase is trading at $31.51 per share, or 12.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ENPH doesn’t pass our bar.

HP (HPQ)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 6.3%

Born from the legendary Silicon Valley garage startup founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in 1939, HP (NYSE: HPQ) designs and sells personal computers, printers, and related technology products and services to consumers, businesses, and enterprises worldwide.

Why Do We Pass on HPQ?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 1% annually over the last five years
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 4.1 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

HP’s stock price of $24.60 implies a valuation ratio of 6.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HPQ.

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 Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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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