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

3 Cash-Heavy Stocks That Fall Short

MCRI Cover Image

Companies with more cash than debt can be financially resilient, but that doesn’t mean they’re all strong investments. Some lack leverage because they struggle to grow or generate consistent profits, making them unattractive borrowers.

Just because a business has cash doesn’t mean it’s a good investment. Luckily, StockStory is here to help you separate the winners from the losers. Keeping that in mind, here are three companies with net cash positions to avoid and some better alternatives instead.

Monarch (MCRI)

Net Cash Position: $57.79 million (3.1% of Market Cap)

Established in 1993, Monarch (NASDAQ: MCRI) operates luxury casinos and resorts, offering high-end gaming, dining, and hospitality experiences.

Why Are We Hesitant About MCRI?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 4% annual growth was below the typical consumer discretionary company
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 4.5% for the next year implies demand will be shaky

At $103.29 per share, Monarch trades at 20.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than MCRI.

NerdWallet (NRDS)

Net Cash Position: $92.3 million (11.2% of Market Cap)

Born from founder Tim Chen's frustration with the lack of transparent credit card information when helping his sister in 2009, NerdWallet (NASDAQ: NRDS) is a digital platform that provides financial guidance to help consumers and small businesses make smarter decisions about credit cards, loans, insurance, and other financial products.

Why Do We Think Twice About NRDS?

  1. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction

NerdWallet is trading at $11.07 per share, or 2x forward P/E. If you’re considering NRDS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

StoneX (SNEX)

Net Cash Position: $7.35 billion (148% of Market Cap)

Originally known as INTL FCStone until its 2020 rebranding, StoneX Group (NASDAQ: SNEX) provides a global financial services network connecting companies, traders, and investors to markets through clearing, execution, and advisory services.

Why Are We Wary of SNEX?

  1. Earnings growth over the last four years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 3.2% annually
  2. Debt-to-equity ratio of 7.2× is concerningly high, indicating excessive leverage that could limit financial flexibility

StoneX’s stock price of $96.92 implies a valuation ratio of 2.3x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than SNEX.

Stocks We Like More

Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.

Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our 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-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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