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 Volatile Stock on Our Watchlist and 2 That Underwhelm

AIR Cover Image

Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains. This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.

These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. That said, here is one volatile stock that could deliver huge gains and two that might not be worth the risk.

Two Stocks to Sell:

AAR (AIR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.19

The first third-party MRO approved by the FAA for Safety Management System Requirements, AAR (NYSE: AIR) is a provider of aircraft maintenance services

Why Does AIR Worry Us?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 6.1% over the last five years was below our standards for the industrials sector
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 5.6 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. ROIC of 7% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

AAR’s stock price of $75.68 implies a valuation ratio of 16.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than AIR.

Citigroup (C)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.53

With operations in nearly 160 countries and a history dating back to 1812, Citigroup (NYSE: C) is a global financial services company that provides banking, investment, wealth management, and payment solutions to consumers, corporations, and governments.

Why Are We Cautious About C?

  1. Annual net interest income growth of 5.3% over the last five years lagged behind its banking peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
  2. Demand is forecasted to shrink as its estimated net interest income for the next 12 months is flat
  3. Weak unit economics are reflected in its net interest margin of 2.4%, one of the worst among bank companies

Citigroup is trading at $95.15 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why C doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

Warby Parker (WRBY)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.34

Founded in 2010, Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) designs, manufactures, and sells eyewear, including prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, through its e-commerce platform and physical retail locations.

Why Are We Positive On WRBY?

  1. Rapidly increasing store base reflects a desire to sell in new markets and scale quickly
  2. Differentiated product assortment is reflected in its best-in-class gross margin of 54.9%
  3. Earnings growth has massively outpaced its peers over the last three years as its EPS has compounded at 68.5% annually

At $25.26 per share, Warby Parker trades at 71.3x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 6 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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