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.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

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)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

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 Profitable Stocks We Approach with Caution

QRVO Cover Image

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.

Qorvo (QRVO)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 3.3%

Formed by the merger of TriQuint and RF Micro Devices, Qorvo (NASDAQ: QRVO) is a designer and manufacturer of RF chips used in almost all smartphones globally, along with a variety of chips used in networking equipment and infrastructure.

Why Is QRVO Risky?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 2.3% annual growth was below the typical semiconductor company
  2. Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 22.3 percentage points
  3. 11.7 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

Qorvo’s stock price of $92.05 implies a valuation ratio of 15.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than QRVO.

Kadant (KAI)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 15.7%

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Kadant (NYSE: KAI) is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide.

Why Are We Wary of KAI?

  1. Muted 4.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
  2. Estimated sales growth of 3.1% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
  3. Earnings per share were flat over the last two years and fell short of the peer group average

Kadant is trading at $328.21 per share, or 34.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including KAI in your portfolio.

Prospect Capital (PSEC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 67.7%

Operating as one of the largest publicly traded business development companies in the United States, Prospect Capital (NASDAQ: PSEC) provides debt and equity financing to middle-market companies across various industries.

Why Do We Steer Clear of PSEC?

  1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 8.1% annually over the last two years
  2. Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 12.7% annually, worse than its revenue
  3. Annual tangible book value per share declines of 4.3% for the past five years show its capital management struggled during this cycle

At $2.87 per share, Prospect Capital trades at 6.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why PSEC doesn’t pass our bar.

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 Comfort Systems (+782% 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.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.