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 Unpopular Stocks with Open Questions

GIS Cover Image

Wall Street has issued downbeat forecasts for the stocks in this article. These predictions are rare - financial institutions typically hesitate to say bad things about a company because it can jeopardize their other revenue-generating business lines like M&A advisory.

At StockStory, we look beyond the headlines with our independent analysis to determine whether these bearish calls are justified. That said, here are three stocks where the skepticism is well-placed and some better opportunities to consider.

General Mills (GIS)

Consensus Price Target: $54.80 (8.3% implied return)

Best known for its portfolio of powerhouse breakfast cereal brands, General Mills (NYSE: GIS) is a packaged foods company that has also made a mark in cereals, baking products, and snacks.

Why Does GIS Worry Us?

  1. Falling unit sales over the past two years suggest it might have to lower prices to stimulate growth
  2. Projected sales decline of 4.2% for the next 12 months points to an even tougher demand environment ahead
  3. Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last three years as its EPS grew by just 2.2% annually

At $50.62 per share, General Mills trades at 12.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GIS in your portfolio.

Kontoor Brands (KTB)

Consensus Price Target: $80.40 (-3.8% implied return)

Founded in 2019 after separating from VF Corporation, Kontoor Brands (NYSE: KTB) is a clothing company known for its high-quality denim products.

Why Do We Think Twice About KTB?

  1. Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must innovate and find new ways to grow
  2. Underwhelming constant currency revenue performance over the past two years suggests its product offering at current prices doesn’t resonate with customers
  3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Kontoor Brands is trading at $83.56 per share, or 15.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering KTB for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Red Rock Resorts (RRR)

Consensus Price Target: $63.46 (3.8% implied return)

Founded in 1976, Red Rock Resorts (NASDAQ: RRR) operates a range of casino resorts and entertainment properties, primarily in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

Why Are We Hesitant About RRR?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 7.1% annual growth was below the typical consumer discretionary company
  2. Estimated sales growth of 1.7% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
  3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

Red Rock Resorts’s stock price of $61.14 implies a valuation ratio of 36.9x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with RRR, check out our full research report (it’s free).

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 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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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