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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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 Safe-and-Steady Stocks to Research Further and 1 That Underwhelm

SBGI Cover Image

Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. Keeping that in mind, here are two low-volatility stocks that could succeed under all market conditions and one stuck in limbo.

One Stock to Sell:

Sinclair (SBGI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.57

With over 2,400 hours of local news produced weekly and 640 broadcast channels reaching millions of American homes, Sinclair (NASDAQ: SBGI) operates a network of 185 local television stations across 86 U.S. markets, producing news programming and distributing content from major networks.

Why Do We Think SBGI Will Underperform?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 9.2% annually over the last five years
  2. Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 21.9% annually, worse than its revenue
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 8.2 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

Sinclair’s stock price of $13.89 implies a valuation ratio of 1.9x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SBGI in your portfolio.

Two Stocks to Watch:

Inspire Medical Systems (INSP)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.62

Offering an alternative for the millions who struggle with traditional CPAP machines, Inspire Medical Systems (NYSE: INSP) develops and sells an implantable neurostimulation device that treats obstructive sleep apnea by stimulating nerves to keep airways open during sleep.

Why Should You Buy INSP?

  1. Controlled growth in new domestic medical centers reflects a methodical approach to market expansion
  2. Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last five years, increasing by 22.5% annually
  3. Free cash flow margin jumped by 31.8 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends

At $80.36 per share, Inspire Medical Systems trades at 27.2x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

City Holding (CHCO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.68

With roots dating back to 1957 and a strategic presence along the I-64 and I-81 corridors, City Holding (NASDAQGS:CHCO) operates as a financial holding company providing banking, trust, and investment services through its subsidiary City National Bank across West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio.

Why Is CHCO Interesting?

  1. Differentiated product suite is reflected in its Strong performance of its loan book leads to a High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds lead to a stellar net interest margin of 3.9%
  2. Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 11.6%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last five years
  3. Stellar return on equity showcases management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures

City Holding is trading at $123.80 per share, or 2.3x forward P/B. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check 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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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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