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

2 Safe-and-Steady Stocks with Competitive Advantages and 1 We Find Risky

OKTA Cover Image

A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance. Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. That said, here are two low-volatility stocks providing safe-and-steady growth and one stuck in limbo.

One Stock to Sell:

Okta (OKTA)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.95

Named after the meteorological measurement for cloud cover, Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA) provides cloud-based identity management solutions that help organizations securely connect their employees, partners, and customers to the right applications and services.

Why Do We Think Twice About OKTA?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 20% annual growth was below the typical software company
  2. Estimated sales growth of 8.7% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
  3. Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 3.8 percentage points over the next year

Okta’s stock price of $91.20 implies a valuation ratio of 5.5x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why OKTA doesn’t pass our bar.

Two Stocks to Watch:

McDonald's (MCD)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.33

With nicknames spanning Mickey D's in the U.S. to Makku in Japan, McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) is a fast-food behemoth known for its convenience and broken ice cream machines.

Why Do We Watch MCD?

  1. Bold push to open new restaurants demonstrates an ambitious strategy to establish itself in underpenetrated territories
  2. Attractive franchise model leads to wonderful unit economics and a best-in-class gross margin of 57%
  3. Strong free cash flow margin of 27% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently

McDonald's is trading at $314.28 per share, or 24.6x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

TransDigm (TDG)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.86

Supplying parts for nearly all aircraft currently in service, TransDigm (NYSE: TDG) develops and manufactures components and systems for military and commercial aviation.

Why Will TDG Beat the Market?

  1. Core business is healthy and doesn’t need acquisitions to boost sales as its organic revenue growth averaged 13% over the past two years
  2. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 24.9% outpaced its revenue gains
  3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends, and its growing cash flow gives it even more resources to deploy

At $1,270 per share, TransDigm trades at 30.3x 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 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.

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