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 Small-Cap Stocks We Approach with Caution

BASE Cover Image

Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on. But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.

These trade-offs can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. That said, here are three small-cap stocks to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Couchbase (BASE)

Market Cap: $1.33 billion

Formed in 2011 with the merger of Membase and CouchOne, Couchbase (NASDAQ: BASE) is a database-as-a-service platform that allows enterprises to store large volumes of semi-structured data.

Why Does BASE Give Us Pause?

  1. Average billings growth of 6.6% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand
  2. Customer acquisition costs take a while to recoup, making it difficult to justify sales and marketing investments that could increase revenue
  3. Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model

At $24.21 per share, Couchbase trades at 5.5x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including BASE in your portfolio.

Newmark (NMRK)

Market Cap: $2.79 billion

Founded in 1929, Newmark (NASDAQ: NMRK) provides commercial real estate services, including leasing advisory, global corporate services, investment sales and capital markets, property and facilities management, valuation and advisory, and consulting.

Why Should You Dump NMRK?

  1. Lackluster 7.4% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates the company is losing ground to competitors
  2. Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value
  3. Underwhelming 2.7% return on capital reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

Newmark’s stock price of $15.12 implies a valuation ratio of 9.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NMRK.

Renasant (RNST)

Market Cap: $3.38 billion

Founded in 1904 during a time when the South was rebuilding its economy, Renasant (NYSE: RNST) is a regional bank holding company that offers banking, wealth management, insurance, and specialized lending services throughout the Southeast.

Why Are We Hesitant About RNST?

  1. Earnings per share fell by 8.6% annually over the last two years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
  2. 4.2% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last two years was slower than its bank peers
  3. Below-average return on equity indicates management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

Renasant is trading at $35.52 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why RNST doesn’t pass our bar.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking 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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