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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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 S&P 500 Stock to Consider Right Now and 2 We Brush Off

CL Cover Image

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition.

Even among blue-chip stocks, not all investments are created equal - which is why we built StockStory to help you navigate the market. That said, here is one S&P 500 stock that is leading the market forward and two that may struggle.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Generac (GNRC)

Market Cap: $9.64 billion

With its name deriving from a combination of “generating” and “AC”, Generac (NYSE: GNRC) offers generators and other power products for residential, industrial, and commercial use.

Why Does GNRC Worry Us?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 4.7% over the last two years was below our standards for the industrials sector
  2. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 6 percentage points
  3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

At $164.50 per share, Generac trades at 20.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GNRC in your portfolio.

Northern Trust (NTRS)

Market Cap: $25.05 billion

Founded in 1889 during Chicago's post-Great Fire rebuilding boom, Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS) provides wealth management, asset servicing, and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, families, and high-net-worth individuals globally.

Why Is NTRS Not Exciting?

  1. 4.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its financials peers
  2. Earnings growth over the last five years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 5.3% annually

Northern Trust’s stock price of $130.68 implies a valuation ratio of 15.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NTRS.

One Stock to Watch:

Colgate-Palmolive (CL)

Market Cap: $64.42 billion

Formed after the 1928 combination between toothpaste maker Colgate and soap maker Palmolive-Peet, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is a consumer products company that focuses on personal, household, and pet products.

Why Could CL Be a Winner?

  1. Products command premium prices and result in a best-in-class gross margin of 60.2%
  2. CL is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
  3. Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures, and its returns are climbing as it finds even more attractive growth opportunities

Colgate-Palmolive is trading at $79.51 per share, or 21x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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 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 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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