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 Russell 2000 Stocks That Concern Us

OLPX 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.

Picking the right small caps isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why StockStory exists - to help you focus on the best opportunities. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to avoid and better alternatives to consider.

Olaplex (OLPX)

Market Cap: $953.9 million

Rising to fame on TikTok because of its “bond building" hair products, Olaplex (NASDAQ: OLPX) offers products and treatments that repair the damage caused by traditional heat and chemical-based styling goods.

Why Does OLPX Give Us Pause?

  1. Annual revenue declines of 16.4% over the last three years indicate problems with its market positioning
  2. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last three years, showing each sale was less profitable
  3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 13.2 percentage points over the last year, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

Olaplex’s stock price of $1.44 implies a valuation ratio of 18.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why OLPX doesn’t pass our bar.

EnerSys (ENS)

Market Cap: $3.79 billion

Supplying batteries that power equipment as big as mining rigs, EnerSys (NYSE: ENS) manufactures various kinds of batteries for a range of industries.

Why Does ENS Fall Short?

  1. Declining unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
  2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 1.6%
  3. Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of 4.2% for the last five years

At $101.03 per share, EnerSys trades at 8.7x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with ENS, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Genco (GNK)

Market Cap: $739.3 million

Headquartered in NYC, Genco (NYSE: GNK) is a shipping company that transports dry bulk cargo along worldwide maritime routes.

Why Is GNK Not Exciting?

  1. Performance surrounding its owned vessels has lagged its peers
  2. Earnings per share have contracted by 61.9% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 26.4 percentage points

Genco is trading at $17.21 per share, or 18.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering GNK for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

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 Kadant (+351% 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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