Key Takeaways Sterling Infrastructure raised 2025 EPS guidance following strong Q2 results.Q2 EPS rose 41% year over year to $2.69, with gross margins reaching 23.3%.Transportation Solutions and E-Infrastructure helped strengthen profitability.Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) has continued to show strength in profitability, prompting an increase in its full-year 2025 earnings guidance. The company’s emphasis on high-value projects and a disciplined portfolio mix has been critical to driving profitabilit ...

Key Takeaways All five picks feature low debt-to-equity ratios, signaling reduced financial risk for investors.Each stock carries a Zacks Rank #2, highlighting its proven record of solid performance.Strong earnings growth estimates support steady returns even in volatile market conditions.All three major U.S. stock indices slipped on Sept. 3, 2025, owing to multiple factors, including rising tariff concerns, higher long-term Treasury yields and inflation fears, that might have caused investor uncertainty an ...

Key Takeaways Sterling's CEC Facilities acquisition broadens its E-Infrastructure service offerings.Total backlog reaches $2B, up 24% over the previous year, with strong future visibility.Sterling's stock rallied 42.9% in 3 months, outperforming the industry.Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) has completed the acquisition of CEC Facilities Group, LLC — a specialized electrical and mechanical contractor based in Irving, TX — which was previously announced on June 16, 2025.The buyout of CEC Facilities is ex ...

Acquisition Expands Suite of E-Infrastructure Services into Mission-Critical Electrical ContractingTHE WOODLANDS, Texas, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) ("Sterling" or "the Company") today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Irving, Texas-based CEC Facilities Group, LLC, et al. ("CEC"), a leading specialty electrical and mechanical contractor.CEC will join Sterling's E-Infrastructure Solutions segment and is estimated to genera ...

Key Takeaways Sterling's E-Infrastructure backlog up 44% YoY to $1.2B, driving revenue growth in mission-critical projects.Primoris' backlog rose 10% YoY to $11.49B, with $1.7B in data center work under evaluation for 2025 contracts.PRIM trades at discount to STRL, offers steady multi-year growth from data centers, renewables and utilities.Firms like Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) and Primoris Services Corporation (PRIM) are currently gaining on the growing demand for infrastructure solutions in the U ...

Core Insights - U.S. stock indices rose over 1.5% on August 22, 2025, following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's indication of a potential interest rate cut next month, leading to increased trader optimism and a notable rise in Wall Street [1][10] Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to consider low-leverage stocks such as NatWest Group, Sterling Infrastructure, Luxfer Holdings, Evercore, and Hillman Solutions Corp. as safer investment options due to their lower risk profile [2][10] - The focus on low-leverage stocks is based on the understanding that companies with excessive debt financing may face significant losses during economic downturns [5][6] Low-Leverage Stocks - Leverage refers to the practice of borrowing capital for operations and expansion, typically through debt financing, which can pose risks if returns do not exceed interest costs [4][5] - A lower debt-to-equity ratio indicates improved solvency and reduced financial risk for a company, making it a crucial metric for investors [7][9] Company Highlights - **NatWest Group (NWG)**: Announced a £140 million lending for essential upgrades to the UK's Haweswater Aqueduct, with a projected 20.1% sales improvement for 2025 and a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.9% [15][16] - **Sterling Infrastructure (STRL)**: Reported a 21% year-over-year revenue increase and a 40.8% surge in earnings per share for Q2 2025, with a projected 45.9% earnings improvement for 2025 [17][18] - **Luxfer Holdings (LXFR)**: Achieved a 5.8% increase in adjusted net sales and a 25% rise in adjusted earnings per share for Q2 2025, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 8% [19][20] - **Evercore (EVR)**: Reported a 20.7% increase in adjusted revenues and a 30.4% rise in earnings for Q2 2025, with a projected 15.9% sales improvement for 2025 [20][21] - **Hillman Solutions (HLMN)**: Experienced a 6.2% sales increase and a 6.3% growth in adjusted earnings per share for Q2 2025, with a projected 6.6% sales improvement for 2025 [22][23]

Core Insights - The article compares Babcock International Group PLC (BCKIY) and Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) to determine which stock is more attractive to value investors [1] - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and an improving earnings outlook [3] Valuation Metrics - BCKIY has a forward P/E ratio of 18.29, while STRL has a higher forward P/E of 31.24 [5] - The PEG ratio for BCKIY is 1.33, suggesting a more favorable valuation relative to its expected earnings growth compared to STRL's PEG ratio of 2.08 [5] - BCKIY's P/B ratio is 8.7, compared to STRL's P/B ratio of 9.28, indicating that BCKIY is relatively undervalued based on book value [6] Value Grades - Based on the valuation metrics, BCKIY holds a Value grade of B, while STRL has a Value grade of D, suggesting that BCKIY is the superior value option at this time [6][7]

Core Insights - Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) is facing challenges due to weakness in the U.S. housing market, leading to a 7.6% year-over-year decline in its Building Solutions segment revenues to $199.3 million in the first half of 2025 [1][9] - The decline in the residential market is being offset by strong growth in the E-Infrastructure Solutions segment, which saw a 24.2% year-over-year increase in revenues to $528.7 million, contributing 51% to total revenues [2][9] - STRL's backlog in the E-Infrastructure Solutions segment increased by 44% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, driven by mission-critical projects such as data centers and manufacturing [2][9] Company Developments - STRL has agreed to acquire CEC Facilities Group, LLC, a specialty electrical and mechanical contractor, expected to close by Q3 2025, which will enhance STRL's capabilities in mission-critical services [3][4] - The acquisition is anticipated to create synergies that will help mitigate the impact of the housing market's softness and improve STRL's prospects [4] Competitive Landscape - STRL faces competition from firms like EMCOR Group and MasTec Inc. in the public infrastructure sector [5] - EMCOR reported Remaining Performance Obligations (RPOs) of $11.91 billion, reflecting 22% organic growth and 32.4% growth including acquisitions [6] - MasTec's backlog reached $16.45 billion, marking a 23.3% year-over-year increase, driven by demand in AI, cloud computing, and data storage [7] Stock Performance and Valuation - STRL's stock has surged 62.5% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry and the S&P 500 index [8] - The stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29.27, indicating a premium valuation compared to industry peers [10] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have trended upward, with projected growth rates of 45.9% and 9.4% year-over-year, respectively [12]

Core Insights - Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) reported strong second-quarter 2025 results, with earnings exceeding estimates by 19% and revenues by 10.7% [1] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 41% year-over-year to $2.69, while revenues rose by 21% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company experienced significant growth in E-Infrastructure Solutions and Transportation Solutions, which compensated for a decline in the Building Solutions segment [2] - Gross margin expanded by 400 basis points to 23%, achieving a new high due to a shift towards higher-margin services [2] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 35% compared to the prior year [2] Stock Performance - STRL shares gained 51.4% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry's 11.3% and the S&P 500's 8.8% [5] - The stock has shown a consistent upward trend since the second-quarter results announcement, rising 6.6% [5] E-Infrastructure Solutions - E-Infrastructure Solutions led revenue growth with a 29% increase, doubling data center sales and achieving margins of 28% [8][9] - The backlog for E-Infrastructure reached $1.2 billion, up 44% year-over-year, indicating strong future revenue visibility [10][11] - Data center revenues more than doubled, with e-commerce distribution backlog increasing nearly 700% year-over-year [10] Transportation Solutions - The Transportation Solutions segment backlog stood at $715 million, up 5% year-over-year, with expectations for revenue growth in the low-to-mid teens for 2025 [13][14] - The company is downsizing low-bid heavy highway operations in Texas, which is expected to create a more profitable mix [14] Acquisition Strategy - Sterling is advancing its E-Infrastructure platform through the pending $505 million acquisition of CEC Facilities Group, which will enhance its service offerings [15][16] - The integration is expected to create cross-selling opportunities and expand the company's geographic footprint [16] Analyst Outlook - Earnings estimates for 2025 have been revised upward to $8.90 per share, reflecting a growth of 45.9% year-over-year [17] - STRL is currently trading at a premium compared to its industry peers, with a forward P/E ratio above its five-year average [19][21] Conclusion - The strong second-quarter results, growing backlog, and strategic acquisitions position Sterling for long-term growth [22] - Despite trading at a premium, the stock's performance and favorable growth drivers justify its valuation, making it an attractive option for investors [23]

Core Insights - Willdan Group and Sterling Infrastructure exceeded Q2 expectations, reporting record revenue and net income driven by strong performance in high-growth infrastructure sectors [1][2] - Both companies raised their full-year guidance following strong Q2 results, indicating confidence in continued growth [3] Willdan Group Summary - Willdan raised its full-year targets for net revenue to $340-$350 million, Adjusted EPS to $3.50-$3.65, and Adjusted EBITDA to $70-$73 million [4] - The company secured significant contracts, including a $30 million deal with the City of Fairfield and a $20 million contract with National Grid [4] - Willdan's stock has increased nearly +200% year to date, with a three-year growth of over +380% [9] Sterling Infrastructure Summary - Sterling raised its full-year revenue guidance to $2.10-$2.15 billion, net income to $243-$252 million, and adjusted EPS to $9.21-$9.47 [5] - The company has a backlog exceeding $2 billion, focusing on high-margin projects in states like Utah, Colorado, and Texas [5] - Sterling's stock has risen over +70% year to date, with a three-year increase of over +260% [9] Strategic Acquisitions - Both companies are expanding into data center infrastructure, capitalizing on advancements in artificial intelligence [6] - Willdan acquired Alternative Power Generation to enhance its capabilities for AI data centers and EV charging stations [7] - Sterling plans to acquire CEC Facilities Group to expand its electrical contracting services for semiconductors and data centers [8] Valuation Analysis - Both companies forecast high-double digit EPS growth, with Sterling having a P/E valuation of 34X forward earnings compared to Willdan's 40.3X [10] - Willdan's stock is closer to an optimal sales level of less than 2X, while Sterling's is at 4.3X [11] - Despite raising guidance, Willdan's top line is expected to dip at least 38% after a record year, while Sterling is projected to maintain or reach peak annual sales [11] Conclusion - Willdan Group and Sterling Infrastructure are positioned as top engineering companies for investment, with Sterling's stronger financials offering more appeal [12] - Both companies' ventures into data center infrastructure suggest long-term viability as investments [13]