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 Russell 2000 Stocks We Think Twice About

AGYS Cover Image

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks that don’t make the cut and some better choices instead.

Agilysys (AGYS)

Market Cap: $2.95 billion

With a tech stack that powers everything from check-in to checkout at some of the world's top hospitality venues, Agilysys (NASDAQ: AGYS) develops and provides cloud-based and on-premise software solutions for hotels, resorts, casinos, and restaurants to manage operations and enhance guest experiences.

Why Does AGYS Worry Us?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 19% over the last three years was below our standards for the software sector
  2. Gross margin of 62.1% reflects its relatively high servicing costs

Agilysys’s stock price of $105.49 implies a valuation ratio of 9.3x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why AGYS doesn’t pass our bar.

Pursuit (PRSU)

Market Cap: $1.04 billion

With attractions ranging from glacier tours in the Canadian Rockies to an oceanfront geothermal lagoon in Iceland, Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality (NYSE: PRSU) operates iconic travel experiences, experiential marketing services, and exhibition management across North America and Europe.

Why Are We Hesitant About PRSU?

  1. Sales tumbled by 16.4% annually over the last five years, showing consumer trends are working against its favor
  2. Poor free cash flow margin of 1.4% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
  3. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business

Pursuit trades at a stock price of $36.65. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PRSU.

Atlantic Union Bankshares (AUB)

Market Cap: $5.05 billion

Tracing its roots back to 1902 when it first opened its doors in Virginia, Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB) is a full-service regional bank providing commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and insurance services throughout Virginia and parts of Maryland and North Carolina.

Why Is AUB Not Exciting?

  1. Net interest margin of 3.4% is well below other banks, signaling its loans aren’t very profitable
  2. Tangible book value per share stagnated over the last five years, limiting its ability to leverage its balance sheet to make additional investments
  3. Projected tangible book value per share growth of 6.5% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish capital generation

At $35.42 per share, Atlantic Union Bankshares trades at 1x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including AUB in your portfolio.

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 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-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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