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.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

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

Duolingo (DUOL) Stock Trades Down, Here Is Why

DUOL Cover Image

What Happened?

Shares of language-learning app Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL) fell 2.8% in the afternoon session after reports revealed Apple's new AirPods will be able to translate conversations in real time, introducing a significant competitive threat. 

The news created volatility for the language-learning app's stock, as a built-in translation feature from a tech giant like Apple could challenge Duolingo's market position. This latest drop adds to a difficult period for the company, which has seen its stock slide significantly over the past three months. Despite the market's negative reaction to the potential competition, some analysts remain positive. For instance, KeyBanc Capital Markets recently reiterated its Overweight rating on the stock ahead of the company's upcoming Duocon event, viewing it as a potential positive catalyst for investor sentiment.

The shares closed the day at $307.91, down 0.5% from previous close.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Duolingo? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.

What Is The Market Telling Us

Duolingo’s shares are extremely volatile and have had 37 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 1 day ago when the stock gained 8.6% after a positive analyst note highlighted a strategy that could significantly boost future profits. 

Citizens JMP maintained its Market Outperform rating and $500 price target, pointing out that Duolingo's push to direct new subscribers to its web platform instead of app stores could increase its 2027 EBITDA by approximately 10%. By bypassing Apple's estimated 20% take rate for a much lower 3% processing fee from services like Stripe, the company stands to make significant savings. This optimistic analysis is supported by the company's strong financial health, including a 41.5% year-over-year revenue increase in its last reported quarter. Other analysts have also recently expressed confidence, with JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley maintaining Overweight ratings due to advancements in AI and monetization.

Duolingo is down 5.5% since the beginning of the year, and at $307.98 per share, it is trading 43% below its 52-week high of $540.68 from May 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Duolingo’s shares at the IPO in July 2021 would now be looking at an investment worth $2,216.

Do you want to know what moves the business you care about? Add them to your StockStory watchlist and every time a stock significantly moves, we provide you with a timely explanation straight to your inbox. It’s free and will only take you a second.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.