Best "Strong Buy" Stocks to Buy Now in April

Market Overview - Wall Street is closely monitoring developments regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a market rebound after a previous decline [1] - The Nasdaq has experienced a significant pullback, down nearly 12% from its October peaks, presenting a potential buying opportunity for long-term investors [2] Investment Strategy - Long-term investors are encouraged to consider purchasing high-quality stocks, particularly those with strong positive earnings revisions, despite potential near-term volatility [3] - A Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stock screening strategy is suggested to identify top-performing stocks among over 200 highly-ranked companies [4] Stock Screening Criteria - The screening parameters include: - Zacks Rank equal to 1, which has historically provided an average annual return of approximately 24.4% since 1988 [6] - Positive percentage change in Q1 earnings estimates over the last four weeks [7] - Top 5 stocks with the best average broker rating changes over the last four weeks [8] Featured Stock: Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) - Sterling Infrastructure is recognized for its growth potential in AI data centers and semiconductor manufacturing, earning a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [9] - The company has quadrupled its earnings and doubled its revenue from 2020 to 2025, benefiting from key megatrends [10] - Sterling reported a signed backlog of $3.0 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting a 78% year-over-year increase [11] - Projected growth includes a 26% increase in adjusted earnings for 2026 and a 15% increase for 2027, with revenue growth of 25% and 9%, respectively [11] - The stock has appreciated 1,700% over the past five years, supported by recent upward earnings revisions [12] Valuation and Price Target - STRL is currently trading 28% below its recent highs at a forward P/E of 28.7X [15] - The average Zacks price target indicates a potential upside of 14% from its current price [15]