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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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.

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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

2 Volatile Stocks Worth Your Attention and 1 That Underwhelm

NOW Cover Image

A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. That said, here are two volatile stocks that could reward patient investors and one best left to the gamblers.

One Stock to Sell:

Advanced Energy (AEIS)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.90

Pioneering technologies for radio frequency power delivery, Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS) provides power supplies, thermal management systems, and measurement and control instruments for various manufacturing processes.

Why Is AEIS Risky?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 5.9% annually over the last two years
  2. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 9.9% annually, worse than its revenue declines
  3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Advanced Energy’s stock price of $157.44 implies a valuation ratio of 28.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including AEIS in your portfolio.

Two Stocks to Watch:

ServiceNow (NOW)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.52

Built on a single code base that processes over 4 billion workflow transactions daily, ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) provides a cloud-based platform that helps organizations automate and digitize workflows across departments, from IT and HR to customer service and security.

Why Should You Buy NOW?

  1. Current remaining performance obligations (cRPO) have averaged 22.9% growth over the last year, showing it has a pipeline of unfulfilled contracts that will support revenue in the future
  2. Healthy operating margin of 13.3% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes, and its profits increased over the last year as it scaled
  3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends

ServiceNow is trading at $929.46 per share, or 13.6x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Griffon (GFF)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.14

Initially in the defense industry, Griffon (NYSE: GFF) is a now diversified company specializing in home improvement, professional equipment, and building products.

Why Could GFF Be a Winner?

  1. Operating profits increased over the last five years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
  2. Incremental sales over the last five years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 28.8% annually, topping its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin increased by 13 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders

At $77.50 per share, Griffon trades at 12.6x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. 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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