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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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.

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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

1 Safe-and-Steady Stock on Our Watchlist and 2 We Question

YELP Cover Image

A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance. Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.

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

Two Stocks to Sell:

Regeneron (REGN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.76

Founded by scientists who wanted to build a company where science could thrive, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) develops and commercializes medicines for serious diseases, with key products treating eye conditions, allergic diseases, cancer, and other disorders.

Why Is REGN Not Exciting?

  1. Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 5.9% over the last two years was below our standards for the healthcare sector
  2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 21.4 percentage points
  3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

Regeneron is trading at $576.98 per share, or 15.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why REGN doesn’t pass our bar.

Sallie Mae (SLM)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.91

Originally created as a government-sponsored enterprise before privatizing in 2004, Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is a financial services company that provides private education loans, savings products, and educational resources to help students and families pay for college.

Why Does SLM Give Us Pause?

  1. Annual sales declines of 1.6% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle

Sallie Mae’s stock price of $28.10 implies a valuation ratio of 9.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering SLM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Watch:

Yelp (YELP)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.41

Founded by PayPal alumni Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons, Yelp (NYSE: YELP) is an online platform that helps people discover local businesses through crowd-sourced reviews.

Why Are We Positive On YELP?

  1. Platform is difficult to replicate at scale and results in a best-in-class gross margin of 91.1%
  2. Healthy EBITDA margin of 26% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes, and its profits increased over the last few years as it scaled
  3. Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 28.4%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last three years

At $31.44 per share, Yelp trades at 5.7x forward EV/EBITDA. 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

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 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-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

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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