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.

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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

2 of Wall Street’s Favorite Stocks with Promising Prospects and 1 We Question

CSL Cover Image

The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%. But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.

Luckily for you, we at StockStory have no conflicts of interest - our sole job is to help you find genuinely promising companies. That said, here are two stocks where Wall Street’s excitement appears well-founded and one where consensus estimates seem disconnected from reality.

One Stock to Sell:

NN (NNBR)

Consensus Price Target: $5.75 (152% implied return)

Formerly known as Nuturn, NN (NASDAQ: NNBR) provides metal components, bearings, and plastic and rubber components to the automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors.

Why Do We Avoid NNBR?

  1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 6.6% annually over the last two years
  2. Negative free cash flow raises questions about the return timeline for its investments
  3. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results

NN’s stock price of $2.28 implies a valuation ratio of 64.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NNBR.

Two Stocks to Watch:

Carlisle (CSL)

Consensus Price Target: $412 (21.3% implied return)

Originally founded as Carlisle Tire and Rubber Company, Carlisle Companies (NYSE: CSL) is a multi-industry product manufacturer focusing on construction materials and weatherproofing technologies.

Why Do We Like CSL?

  1. Healthy operating margin of 19.1% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes, and it turbocharged its profits by achieving some fixed cost leverage
  2. Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 23% to outpace its revenue gains
  3. Free cash flow margin increased by 5.1 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders

At $339.77 per share, Carlisle trades at 14.4x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Globus Medical (GMED)

Consensus Price Target: $82.55 (47.6% implied return)

With operations spanning 64 countries and a portfolio of over 10 new products launched in 2023 alone, Globus Medical (NYSE: GMED) develops and sells implantable devices, surgical instruments, and technology solutions for spine, orthopedic, and neurosurgical procedures.

Why Could GMED Be a Winner?

  1. Constant currency growth averaged 62.3% over the past two years, showing it can expand globally regardless of the macroeconomic environment
  2. Projected revenue growth of 14% for the next 12 months suggests its momentum from the last two years will persist
  3. Earnings per share grew by 20.2% annually over the last five years and trumped its peers

Globus Medical is trading at $55.91 per share, or 16.4x 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

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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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

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