Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

1 Russell 2000 Stock with Exciting Potential and 2 We Find Risky

By: StockStory

September 30, 2025 at 00:31 AM EDT

VSH Cover Image

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here is one Russell 2000 stock that could be a breakout winner and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Vishay Intertechnology (VSH)

Market Cap: $2.06 billion

Named after the founder's ancestral village in present-day Lithuania, Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE: VSH) manufactures simple chips and electronic components that are building blocks of virtually all types of electronic devices.

Why Do We Pass on VSH?

Sales tumbled by 9.1% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 22.3%
14.9 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

Vishay Intertechnology is trading at $15.16 per share, or 82.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VSH.

Matrix Service (MTRX)

Market Cap: $359.3 million

Founded in Oklahoma, Matrix Service (NASDAQ: MTRX) provides engineering, fabrication, construction, and maintenance services primarily to the energy and industrial markets.

Why Should You Dump MTRX?

Annual sales declines of 6.9% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
High input costs result in an inferior gross margin of 3.9% that must be offset through higher volumes
Issuance of new shares over the last five years caused its earnings per share to fall by 34.8% annually, even worse than its revenue declines

At $12.80 per share, Matrix Service trades at 20.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering MTRX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Watch:

Arlo Technologies (ARLO)

Market Cap: $1.79 billion

Originally spun off from networking equipment maker Netgear in 2018, Arlo Technologies (NYSE: ARLO) provides cloud-based smart security devices and subscription services that help consumers and businesses monitor and protect their homes, properties, and loved ones.

Why Do We Like ARLO?

Operating margin improvement of 13.1 percentage points over the last five years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 434% annually, topping its revenue gains
Free cash flow margin grew by 17.4 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with

Arlo Technologies’s stock price of $17.14 implies a valuation ratio of 25.5x forward P/E. Is now a good 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 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

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.

Symbol	Price	Change (%)
AMZN	230.30	+1.05 (0.46%)
AAPL	269.70	+0.70 (0.26%)
AMD	264.33	+6.32 (2.45%)
BAC	52.58	-0.29 (-0.55%)
GOOG	275.17	+6.74 (2.51%)
META	751.67	+0.23 (0.03%)
MSFT	541.55	-0.52 (-0.10%)
NVDA	207.04	+6.01 (2.99%)
ORCL	275.30	-5.53 (-1.97%)
TSLA	461.51	+0.96 (0.21%)

Symbol

Price

Change (%)

AMZN

230.30

+1.05 (0.46%)

AAPL

269.70

+0.70 (0.26%)

AMD

264.33

+6.32 (2.45%)

BAC

52.58

-0.29 (-0.55%)

GOOG

275.17

+6.74 (2.51%)

About Us

Laser Focus World Membership

Magazine Subscription

Newsletter Subscription

The Daily Beam

Product Watch

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

Laser Processing Product Watch

Get Published!

Photonics Hot List

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Social Media

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board