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 Profitable Stocks Walking a Fine Line

SCI Cover Image

While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. Keeping that in mind, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Service International (SCI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 22.4%

Founded in 1962, Service International (NYSE: SCI) is a leading provider of death care products and services in North America.

Why Does SCI Worry Us?

  1. Sluggish trends in its funeral services performed suggest customers aren’t adopting its solutions as quickly as the company hoped
  2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 3%
  3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

At $81.04 per share, Service International trades at 20.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering SCI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Progyny (PGNY)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 6.2%

Pioneering a data-driven approach to family building that has achieved an industry-leading patient satisfaction score of +80, Progyny (NASDAQ: PGNY) provides comprehensive fertility and family building benefits solutions to employers, helping employees access quality fertility treatments and support services.

Why Does PGNY Fall Short?

  1. Revenue base of $1.24 billion puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
  2. Estimated sales growth of 4.8% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
  3. ROIC of 0.6% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities

Progyny’s stock price of $22.51 implies a valuation ratio of 13.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PGNY.

Markel Group (MKL)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 20.4%

Often referred to as a "mini Berkshire Hathaway" for its three-engine business model of insurance, investments, and wholly-owned businesses, Markel Group (NYSE: MKL) is a specialty insurance company that underwrites complex risks, manages investment portfolios, and owns a diverse collection of operating businesses.

Why Do We Think Twice About MKL?

  1. Net premiums earned only expanded by 2.9% annually over the last two years, trailing its insurance peers as its scale limited incremental business
  2. Sales are projected to tank by 6.4% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates
  3. Earnings growth over the last two years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 8% annually

Markel Group is trading at $1,929 per share, or 1.4x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MKL in your portfolio.

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 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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