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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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 with Questionable Fundamentals

VPG 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Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.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.

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 to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

Vishay Precision (VPG)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 2.6%

Emerging from Vishay Intertechnology in 2010, Vishay Precision (NYSE: VPG) operates as a global provider of precision measurement and sensing technologies.

Why Do We Avoid VPG?

  1. Sales tumbled by 10.2% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 17.4% annually while its revenue grew
  3. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results

At $29.79 per share, Vishay Precision trades at 29.2x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why VPG doesn’t pass our bar.

IBM (IBM)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 16.1%

With a corporate history spanning over a century and once known for its iconic mainframe computers, IBM (NYSE: IBM) provides hybrid cloud computing platforms, AI solutions, consulting services, and enterprise infrastructure to help businesses modernize their operations.

Why Are We Hesitant About IBM?

  1. Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last five years
  2. Earnings growth over the last five years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 3.3% annually
  3. ROIC of 11.5% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities

IBM’s stock price of $256.99 implies a valuation ratio of 22.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with IBM, check out our full research report (it’s free).

NetApp (NTAP)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 20.7%

Founded in 1992 as a pioneer in networked storage technology, NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) provides data storage and management solutions that help organizations store, protect, and optimize their data across on-premises data centers and public clouds.

Why Are We Cautious About NTAP?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 3.1% over the last two years was below our standards for the business services sector
  2. Projected sales growth of 4% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand

NetApp is trading at $123.63 per share, or 15.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NTAP.

Stocks We Like More

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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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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