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.

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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 S&P 500 Stocks That Concern Us

AKAM 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.

Some large-cap stocks are past their peak, and StockStory is here to help you separate the winners from the laggards. Keeping that in mind, here are three S&P 500 stocks to avoid and some better alternatives instead.

Akamai (AKAM)

Market Cap: $10.87 billion

Founded in 1999 by two engineers from MIT, Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) provides software for organizations to efficiently deliver web content to their customers.

Why Do We Pass on AKAM?

  1. Muted 4.5% annual revenue growth over the last three years shows its demand lagged behind its software peers
  2. Sky-high servicing costs result in an inferior gross margin of 59.1% that must be offset through increased usage
  3. Competitive market means the company must spend more on sales and marketing to stand out even if the return on investment is low

Akamai’s stock price of $74.06 implies a valuation ratio of 2.7x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with AKAM, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Electronic Arts (EA)

Market Cap: $39.3 billion

Best known for its Madden NFL and FIFA sports franchises, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is one of the world’s largest video game publishers.

Why Do We Think Twice About EA?

  1. 1.2% annual revenue growth over the last three years was slower than its consumer internet peers
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 2.1% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
  3. Efficiency has decreased over the last few years as its EBITDA margin fell by 6.1 percentage points

At $157.67 per share, Electronic Arts trades at 13.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including EA in your portfolio.

Vulcan Materials (VMC)

Market Cap: $36.33 billion

Founded in 1909, Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) is a producer of construction aggregates, primarily crushed stone, sand, and gravel.

Why Does VMC Give Us Pause?

  1. Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle
  2. Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of tons shipped has underwhelmed
  3. Gross margin of 25% is below its competitors, leaving less money to invest in areas like marketing and R&D

Vulcan Materials is trading at $274.94 per share, or 30.9x forward P/E. If you’re considering VMC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like More

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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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