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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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

1 Stock Under $50 with Exciting Potential and 2 That Underwhelm

IMAX Cover Image

Stocks in the $10-50 range offer a sweet spot between affordability and stability as they’re typically more established than penny stocks. But their headline prices don’t guarantee quality, and investors should exercise caution as some have shaky business models.

This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. That said, here is one stock under $50 that could 10x and two that could be down big.

Two Stocks Under $50 to Sell:

Seacoast Banking (SBCF)

Share Price: $31

Founded during the Florida land boom of 1926 and surviving the Great Depression, Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ: SBCF) is a financial holding company that provides commercial and retail banking, wealth management, and mortgage services throughout Florida.

Why Are We Hesitant About SBCF?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 1% over the last two years was below our standards for the banking sector
  2. Muted 2.8% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last five years shows its capital generation lagged behind its banking peers
  3. Projected tangible book value per share decline of 7% for the next 12 months points to tough credit quality challenges ahead

At $31 per share, Seacoast Banking trades at 1.1x forward P/B. If you’re considering SBCF for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

First Hawaiian Bank (FHB)

Share Price: $25.95

Dating back to 1858 as Hawaii's oldest bank with deep roots in the Pacific island communities, First Hawaiian (NASDAQ: FHB) operates a full-service community bank providing deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, credit cards, and wealth management services across Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.

Why Does FHB Worry Us?

  1. Annual net interest income growth of 4% over the last five years was below our standards for the banking sector
  2. Inferior net interest margin of 3% means it must compensate for lower profitability through increased loan originations
  3. Products and services are facing profitability challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat tangible book value per share over the last five years

First Hawaiian Bank is trading at $25.95 per share, or 1.2x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including FHB in your portfolio.

One Stock Under $50 to Watch:

IMAX (IMAX)

Share Price: $28.56

Originally developed for World Expo '67 in Montreal as an innovative projection system, IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) provides proprietary large-format cinema technology and systems that deliver immersive movie experiences with enhanced image quality and sound.

Why Are We Fans of IMAX?

  1. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 34.3% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
  2. Free cash flow margin jumped by 26.4 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
  3. Returns on capital are increasing as management’s prior bets are starting to bear fruit

IMAX’s stock price of $28.56 implies a valuation ratio of 22.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full 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 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. 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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