Investors might want to bet on MasTec (MTZ) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Individual investo ...

For those looking to find strong Construction stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Cemex (CX) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.Cemex is one of 93 companies in the Construction group. The Construction group currently sits at #16 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the ...

Core Insights - Ongoing public and private investment is driving demand in the U.S. infrastructure construction sector, with significant activity in transportation, utilities, energy, and data centers [1] - Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) and MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) are well-positioned contractors benefiting from strong project activity and customer demand [1][2] Company Overview: Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) - STRL focuses on higher-margin site development and mission-critical projects, particularly in E-Infrastructure, which is driven by data center and industrial work [2][4] - The E-Infrastructure segment is the primary growth driver, with revenues from data centers increasing over 125% year-over-year in Q3 2025 [5] - STRL reported a backlog of $2.6 billion in Q3 2025, a 64% increase year-over-year, providing visibility through 2026 [7] Company Overview: MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) - MTZ benefits from diversified demand across communications, clean energy, power delivery, and pipeline infrastructure [8][10] - The company reported a record backlog of $16.78 billion as of Q3 2025, reflecting a 21.1% year-over-year increase [12] - MTZ's Power Delivery segment revenues increased by 16.8% year-over-year, driven by investments in transmission and distribution upgrades [10] Financial Performance and Valuation - STRL's earnings estimates for 2026 remain unchanged at $11.95 per share, indicating a 14.6% expected growth year-over-year [17] - MTZ's earnings estimates for 2026 also remain unchanged at $8.20 per share, indicating a higher expected growth of 28.3% year-over-year [19] - STRL is currently trading at a discount compared to MTZ on a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio basis [15] Investment Outlook - Both companies are positioned to benefit from sustained U.S. infrastructure spending, but STRL shows stronger momentum in mission-critical projects and higher-margin work [20] - STRL's recent share price performance and discounted valuation suggest it may be the more compelling investment at this time compared to MTZ [20]

The AI “hype train” has been accelerating for far longer than even most bulls would have expected, and it is no longer far-fetched to assume that 2026 could be just a repeat of what happened in the past two years. This means more money pouring into everything AI, with all these investments translating into a higher share price for the companies that are most directly involved. It doesn't get more “direct” than power and electricity, which are essential for AI and are expected to face a crunch. AI data ce ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of quantamental analysis, which combines data-driven models with fundamental research to identify strong companies with unique financial profiles [1]. Group 1: Analytical Approach - The primary specialization is in quantamental analysis, utilizing a structured process that integrates top-down screening with bottom-up company-specific analysis [1]. - The goal is to make unique ideas and research accessible to both retail and professional investors while maintaining analytical depth and a clear investment thesis [1]. Group 2: Author's Intent - The author aims to share insights with a broader audience and learn more about companies and other analysts [1]. - There is an intention to potentially initiate a long position in MTZ within the next 72 hours, indicating a proactive investment strategy [1].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of quantamental analysis, which combines data-driven models with fundamental research to identify strong companies with unique financial profiles [1] Group 1: Analytical Approach - The structured process involves both top-down screening and bottom-up company-specific analysis, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of potential investment opportunities [1] - The goal is to make unique ideas and research accessible to both retail and professional investors while maintaining analytical depth and a clear investment thesis [1] Group 2: Author's Background - The author has a background in Financial Engineering and has a long-standing interest in analyzing solid companies [1] - The collaboration with another author, Kennedy Njagi, indicates a shared effort in providing insights and research [1]

Core Viewpoint - MasTec, Inc. is receiving strong buy ratings from various analysts and has favorable growth metrics, indicating potential investment opportunities in the company [2][3]. Company Overview - MasTec, Inc. has a market capitalization of $18.35 billion and operates in the industrial sector, specifically within the construction and engineering industry [4]. Valuation Metrics - The company has a valuation grade of C+ with a PEG ratio of 0.75, significantly lower than the sector average of 1.94, suggesting attractive valuation relative to growth [4]. - The enterprise value-to-sales ratio stands at 1.49, compared to the sector's 2.26, indicating a 34% discount [4]. Growth Metrics - MasTec boasts an A+ growth grade, with a forward EPS diluted growth rate of 60.55%, far exceeding the sector's 8.38% [5]. - The forward EBIT growth rate is 121.73%, compared to the sector's 7.62%, highlighting strong growth potential [5]. Profitability Metrics - The profitability grade is currently C, with an EBITDA margin of 7.37%, which is below the sector average of 14.66% [6]. - Cash from operations is reported at $644.68 million, which is approximately 66% higher than the sector's $386.24 million [6]. Momentum Metrics - The company has an A grade for momentum, with a one-year price performance of 59.56% and a three-month price performance of 9.02%, outperforming the sector's 2.99% [7]. Revisions Metrics - The revisions grade is B+, with 16 upward revisions and one downward revision for earnings per share in the last three months, and 17 upward revisions with no downward revisions for revenue [7].

Group 1: Company Overview - Installed Building Products (IBP) is a member of the Construction sector, which includes 93 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 16 [2] - IBP has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] Group 2: Performance Metrics - Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for IBP's full-year earnings has increased by 7.3%, reflecting improving analyst sentiment [4] - IBP has returned approximately 5.7% since the start of the calendar year, outperforming the average gain of 5.6% for stocks in the Construction group [4] - IBP belongs to the Building Products - Miscellaneous industry, which has gained an average of 2.9% this year, further indicating IBP's strong performance [6] Group 3: Comparison with Peers - MasTec (MTZ), another stock in the Construction sector, has a year-to-date return of 7% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - MasTec belongs to the Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, which has seen a significant increase of 52.5% this year, although it is ranked lower at 191 [7]

Core Insights - The AI-driven bull run of 2023 and 2024 has continued into 2025, with significant interest in old economy stocks from sectors such as industrials, finance, auto, materials, and construction [1][2] Company Summaries Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) - Wells Fargo has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the last four quarters, benefiting from the Federal Reserve's removal of a $1.95 trillion asset cap, which allows for growth in deposits, loans, and fee-based services [6][7] - The bank's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 5.4% and 11.7%, respectively, with a 0.7% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [8] MasTec Inc. (MTZ) - MasTec is positioned to benefit from a surge in infrastructure spending related to AI data centers and electrification trends, with an expected revenue growth rate of 8.4% and earnings growth rate of 28.3% for the current year [11][13] - The company operates in four segments: Communications, Power Delivery, Pipeline Infrastructure, and Clean Energy and Infrastructure, all of which are experiencing growth due to increased infrastructure spending [12][13] Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW) - Curtiss-Wright is benefiting from the global shift towards alternative energy, particularly in nuclear power, and has an expected revenue growth rate of 6.9% and earnings growth rate of 11.6% for the current year [14][16] - The company plays a significant role in the construction of new nuclear power plants, which is expected to drive long-term growth in commercial nuclear energy [15] Leidos Holdings Inc. (LDOS) - Leidos Holdings has a solid backlog of $47.66 billion, driven by increased orders from the Pentagon and other U.S. allies, which enhances its revenue-generation prospects [17] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 3.4% and 4.8%, respectively, with a slight improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [19] Parker-Hannifin Corp. (PH) - Parker-Hannifin is experiencing steady demand in both commercial and military markets, with its Aerospace Systems segment revenues increasing approximately 13.3% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [20][21] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6.1% and 10.6%, respectively, with a minor improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 30 days [23]

Key Takeaways MTZ posted a record $16.8B 18-month backlog, up 21%, led by strong demand in Pipeline Infrastructure.MasTec's acquisitions and diversification lifted communications, power delivery and clean energy revenues.MTZ faces permitting and weather delays, but $2B liquidity supports organic investment and disciplined M&A.MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) is benefiting from record project backlogs and robust demand across multiple end markets, led by its Pipeline Infrastructure segment. Increased multi-year government ...