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

3 Market-Beating Stocks for Long-Term Investors

PLTR Cover Image

Companies that consistently increase their sales, margins, or returns on capital are usually rewarded with the best returns, and those that can do all three for years on end are almost always the legendary stocks that return 100 times your money.

It’s clear there’s a strong connection between sustained earnings growth and hall-of-fame returns. On that note, here are three market-beating stocks that deserve a spot on your list.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR)

Return Since IPO: +1,676%

Named after the all-seeing stones in "Lord of the Rings," Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops software platforms that help government agencies and enterprises integrate, analyze, and operationalize their data for decision-making.

Why Is PLTR a Top Pick?

  1. Winning new contracts that can potentially increase in value as its billings growth has averaged 44.2% over the last year
  2. User-friendly software enables clients to ramp up spending quickly, leading to the speedy recovery of customer acquisition costs
  3. Strong free cash flow margin of 55% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently

Palantir Technologies is trading at $168.72 per share, or 88.2x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Chart (GTLS)

Five-Year Return: +180%

Installing the first bulk Co2 tank for McDonalds’s sodas, Chart (NYSE: GTLS) provides equipment to store and transport gasses.

Why Will GTLS Beat the Market?

  1. Sales pipeline is in good shape as its backlog averaged 31.9% growth over the past two years
  2. Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last two years, increasing by 28% annually
  3. Free cash flow margin jumped by 9.6 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends

Chart’s stock price of $199.98 implies a valuation ratio of 14.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Pathward Financial (CASH)

Five-Year Return: +277%

Formerly known as Meta Financial until its 2022 rebranding, Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) provides banking-as-a-service solutions and commercial finance products, enabling partners to offer financial services like prepaid cards, payment processing, and lending options.

Why Will CASH Outperform?

  1. Market share has increased this cycle as its 13.7% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was exceptional
  2. Differentiated product suite leads to a Strong performance of its loan book results in a High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds are reflected in its best-in-class net interest margin of 6.6%
  3. Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 16.3% exceeded its revenue gains over the last two years

At $75.72 per share, Pathward Financial trades at 2.1x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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 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.

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.