Market Overview - U.S. stock markets are experiencing a continued upward trend in 2025, supported by expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts, strong third-quarter earnings, and optimism surrounding artificial intelligence [1] Recommended Growth Stocks - Five growth stocks are recommended for portfolio strengthening in December: Micron Technology Inc. (MU), Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC), On Holding AG (ONON), and MongoDB Inc. (MDB). Each stock has a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Growth Score of A [2] Micron Technology Inc. (MU) - Micron Technology is a leader in the AI infrastructure boom, driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) solutions, with record sales in the data center market [6][10] - The growing adoption of AI servers is reshaping the DRAM market, increasing demand for high-capacity DIMMs and low-power server DRAM, which MU is well-positioned to capitalize on [7] - Micron's diversification strategy has created a more stable revenue base by shifting focus from consumer electronics to resilient sectors like automotive and enterprise IT [8] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Micron are 62% and over 100%, respectively, for the current year ending August 2026 [10] Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - Comfort Systems USA operates in the commercial and industrial HVAC markets, with a focus on manufacturing plants, office buildings, and healthcare facilities [11] - The data center boom, driven by AI and cloud computing, is increasing demand for specialized HVAC solutions, presenting high-margin opportunities for FIX [12][13] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Comfort Systems are 14.7% and 16.4%, respectively, for the next year [13] Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC) - Kinross Gold has a strong production profile and a promising pipeline of exploration projects, focusing on organic growth through its Tasiast mine [14] - The company expects higher output and cash flow from expansions at Tasiast, Manh Choh, and Great Bear, benefiting from rising gold prices [15][16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Kinross are 9.9% and 32.6%, respectively, for the next year [16] On Holding AG (ONON) - On Holding provides footwear and sports apparel products, with expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 21.1% and 79.3%, respectively, for the next year [17] MongoDB Inc. (MDB) - MongoDB has expanded its Atlas platform into analytics, focusing on developer-friendly interfaces and distributed architectures, targeting modern workloads [18] - The company has benefited from platform adoption across enterprises and startups, with a focus on larger enterprises supporting deal sizes and sales efficiency [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for MongoDB are 12.8% and 16.6%, respectively, for the next year ending January 2027 [21]

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector, bolstered by the growth of cloud computing and data centers, is experiencing robust demand, particularly for data center capacity to manage and store cloud-based data [1] - The "magnificent 7" stocks are projected to invest $380 billion in 2025 for AI infrastructure development, representing a 54% year-over-year increase in capital expenditure [2] Company Summaries Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - FIX operates in the HVAC markets, providing services primarily in commercial and industrial sectors [7] - The demand for specialized HVAC solutions is increasing due to the data center boom driven by AI and cloud computing [8] - FIX has an expected revenue growth rate of 14.7% and earnings growth rate of 16.4% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 21.1% in the last 60 days [11] Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) - VRT is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and services for data centers and communication networks [12] - The company is expanding capacity to meet the growing demand for AI-enabled solutions, supported by strategic acquisitions [13] - VRT has an expected revenue growth rate of 20.7% and earnings growth rate of 26.3% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 0.4% over the last 30 days [15] Sterling Infrastructure Inc. (STRL) - STRL is an engineering firm benefiting from strong momentum in its E-Infrastructure business, which is the primary growth driver [16] - In Q3 2025, STRL's revenues from E-Infrastructure reached $417.1 million, growing approximately 58% year-over-year, with AI-powered data center market revenues rising over 125% [17] - STRL has an expected revenue growth rate of 19.1% and earnings growth rate of 14.6% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 8.8% in the last 30 days [19] Dominion Energy Inc. (D) - D is focused on strengthening its electric and natural gas infrastructure while adding renewable assets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 [20] - The company is experiencing increased demand from large data centers, which is enhancing its service performance [21] - D has an expected revenue growth rate of 6% and earnings growth rate of 5.9% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 0.3% over the last 30 days [22] Alcoa Corp. (AA) - AA is positioned as a potential dark horse in the AI-driven data center boom, as aluminum is critical for various data center components [23] - The company is exploring opportunities to unlock value from its closed sites with large power capacities for conversion into data centers [24] - AA has an expected revenue growth rate of 3.1% and earnings growth rate of 3.1% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 17.8% in the last seven days [24]

Core Insights - AAON, Inc. has announced the promotion of Doug Wichman to executive vice president and general manager of its AAON Business Unit effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Stephen Wakefield who will transition to a consultancy role [1][3]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Doug Wichman will lead the teams responsible for translating corporate objectives into strategic business plans, developing product roadmaps, overseeing engineering and R&D for semi-custom HVAC solutions, and providing technical support to channel partners and end-users [2]. - Wichman has been with AAON since 2012, progressing from a production and manufacturing engineer to plant manager and director of manufacturing, and most recently serving as vice president of business strategy and performance [4][5]. - Stephen Wakefield, who has over 25 years of experience, will continue to support the organization as a principal engineering advisor [5][6]. Group 2: Company Overview - AAON, founded in 1988, is a leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments, focusing on designing and manufacturing highly configurable equipment [6]. - The company is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it has a world-class innovation center and testing lab to advance the industry [6].

Core Insights - Trane Technologies plc (TT) is a global leader in sustainable HVAC solutions and transport refrigeration systems, with a market capitalization of approximately $93.1 billion [1] Stock Performance - TT shares are currently trading about 11.9% below their July high of $476.18, with a slight decline of nearly 1.5% over the past three months, which is less severe compared to the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) that dropped 5% in the same period [2] - Over the past 52 weeks, TT has posted a marginal gain, while XHB has decreased by 11.1%. Year-to-date, TT stock has advanced 13.6%, outperforming XHB's 4.5% rise [3] Earnings Report - On October 30, TT reported Q3 2025 earnings with an adjusted EPS of $3.88, reflecting a 15.1% increase year-over-year and surpassing analyst expectations of $3.78. This was supported by an operating margin expansion to 20.3% from 18.8% [4] - Revenue for the quarter grew 5.6% annually to $5.74 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $5.79 billion. Despite this, management reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting approximately 7% revenue growth for fiscal year 2025 and adjusted continuing EPS of $12.95 to $13.05 [5] Competitive Position - Relative performance indicates TT's stronger execution in a challenging industry environment, as its competitor AAON, Inc. has seen a significant decline of 33.6% over the past 52 weeks and 20.8% year-to-date [6]

Core Insights - The AI-driven bull run of 2023 and 2024 has continued into 2025, with stock prices of AI-centric companies increasing by 300-500% during this period [1] - Old economy stocks from sectors such as industrials, finance, auto, materials, and construction have also seen significant gains, indicating a broad-based market rally [2] Old Economy Stocks - Five old-economy stocks have rallied over 15% year to date and have favorable Zacks Ranks indicating further upside potential in 2026: Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV), General Motors Co. (GM), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), and Crane Co. (CR) [3][9] - Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [3] Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - FIX operates primarily in the HVAC markets and is benefiting from the data center boom driven by AI and cloud computing [6][7] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 14.7% and earnings growth rate of 16.4% for the next year, with a 20.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [8] The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV) - TRV has a strong market presence in auto, homeowners' insurance, and commercial property-casualty insurance, with a high retention rate and positive renewal premium changes [10][11] - The expected revenue growth rate is 3.4% and earnings growth rate is 6.7% for the next year, with a 2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [12] General Motors Co. (GM) - GM holds a 17% market share in the U.S. automotive market, supported by strong demand for its brands and a 10% year-over-year sales increase in China [13][14] - The expected revenue growth rate is -0.8% and earnings growth rate is 11.5% for the next year, with a 6.5% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [15] JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - JPM is expected to see net interest income growth driven by business expansion initiatives and high interest rates, with a projected CAGR of 3.3% by 2027 [16] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rate for the next year is 3.7%, with a slight improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings [18] Crane Co. (CR) - Crane manufactures engineered industrial products across various regions and has an expected revenue growth rate of 6.1% and earnings growth rate of 9.5% for the next year [19] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings has improved by 2.5% over the last 30 days [19]

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector, bolstered by the growth of cloud computing and data centers, is experiencing a robust demand scenario, with a significant surge in data center capacity needed to manage and store cloud-based data [1] - AI infrastructure capital expenditure (capex) is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2028 according to Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, while JP Morgan and Citigroup forecast a cumulative total of $5 trillion by 2030. McKinsey & Co. estimates that global AI-powered data center infrastructure capex will reach around $7 trillion by 2030 [2] Company Recommendations - Investors are advised to buy and hold five non-technology U.S. companies that are expected to benefit from the AI-driven data center boom in 2026. These companies have shown significant stock performance in 2025 [3] - The recommended companies include Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX), Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT), Mirion Technologies Inc. (MIR), BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT), and EMCOR Group Inc. (EME), all of which currently hold a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [4] Company Insights Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - FIX operates primarily in the HVAC markets and is experiencing increased demand for specialized HVAC solutions due to the data center boom driven by AI and cloud computing [7][8] - The company is expanding its data center construction work, which is becoming a significant growth driver and attracting M&A activity [10] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for FIX are 14.7% and 16.4%, respectively, for the next year, with a 20.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [11] Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT) - VRT is a leading provider of critical digital infrastructure for data centers and is benefiting from strong market demand and an extensive product portfolio [12][13] - The company is strategically expanding its capacity to meet the growing demand for AI-enabled solutions and has made acquisitions to enhance its service capabilities [13][14] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for VRT are 20.7% and 26.3%, respectively, for the next year, with a 6.8% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [15] Mirion Technologies Inc. (MIR) - MIR provides radiation detection and monitoring products and is focused on expanding its reach in the nuclear energy sector [16] - The company is integrating digital technologies into its radiation safety solutions and has recently partnered with Westinghouse Electric Company [17] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for MIR are 24.7% and 26.5%, respectively, for the next year, with a 1.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [18] BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT) - BWXT manufactures nuclear components and is benefiting from strong bookings and government contracts, particularly in the nuclear sector [19][20] - The company's total backlog reached $7.4 billion, up 119% year over year, driven by robust federal demand and a growing pipeline [21] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for BWXT are 14.5% and 9.9%, respectively, for the next year, with a 0.2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last seven days [24] EMCOR Group Inc. (EME) - EME is a leading provider of critical infrastructure to AI-powered data centers, focusing on electrical infrastructure and cooling systems [25] - The company is gaining traction in the data center construction market, which is contributing to its expanding performance obligations [26][27] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for EME are 5.9% and 8.6%, respectively, for the next year, with a 1.2% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings over the last 30 days [28]

Core Insights - AAON, Inc. reported strong demand and significant growth in backlog, reaching a record $1.32 billion, up 103.8% year-over-year and 18.1% sequentially, driven by data center applications [2][19] - Net sales for Q3 2025 increased by 17.4% to $384.2 million, with BASX-branded sales rising 95.8% to $124.8 million, while AAON-branded sales decreased by 1.5% to $259.5 million [3][14] - Gross profit margin decreased to 27.8% from 34.9% year-over-year but improved sequentially from 26.6%, primarily due to operational inefficiencies related to ERP implementation [4][14] Financial Performance - Earnings per diluted share were $0.37, down 41.3% year-over-year but up 94.7% sequentially [5][14] - The company anticipates cash flow from operations to turn significantly positive in Q4 2025, with capital expenditure plans of $180 million for the year [17][14] Operational Highlights - Production throughput improved significantly at the Longview, Texas facility, reaching 90% of target in September and exceeding that level in October [6][8] - The BASX brand is expanding its presence in the data center market, with substantial increases in production of liquid cooling equipment [7][8] Segment Performance - AAON Oklahoma segment net sales increased by 4.3% year-over-year to $238.7 million, while gross profit margin was 31.5%, down from 36.8% [9][10] - AAON Coil Products segment net sales surged by 99.4% to $70.2 million, driven by BASX-branded liquid cooling product sales [11][12] - BASX segment net sales increased by 19.2% to $75.2 million, with a gross margin of 27.0% [15][16] Backlog and Market Position - Total backlog increased to $1.32 billion, with BASX-branded backlog growing by 119.5% year-over-year [19][14] - AAON-branded equipment backlog increased by 77.1% year-over-year but declined sequentially by 14.3% [19][14] 2025 Outlook - The company expects mid-teens sales growth for FY25, with gross profit margin projected between 28.0% and 28.5% [20][14]

Core Insights - AAON, Inc. has appointed Roberto Giacomelli as Senior Vice President of Operations, responsible for overseeing operations at five manufacturing facilities across the U.S. [1][2] - Giacomelli brings over 24 years of experience in manufacturing operations, particularly in the automotive and HVAC industries, with a focus on operational excellence and team performance [2][3] - The company emphasizes its commitment to high-performance and energy-efficient HVAC solutions, aiming to enhance customer value through improved operations [4][6] Company Overview - AAON, founded in 1988, is a leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments, known for its highly configurable equipment [4] - The company is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, featuring an innovation center and testing lab to advance HVAC technology [4] Leadership Vision - Giacomelli expressed enthusiasm for AAON's leadership vision and the talent within the company, aiming to drive operational improvements and customer value [4]

Core Viewpoint - AAON, Inc. is set to discuss its third quarter 2025 financial results in a conference call scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. EST, with results released earlier that morning [1]. Company Overview - AAON, founded in 1988, is a global leader in HVAC solutions for commercial, industrial, and data center environments, focusing on high-performance and energy-efficient products [3]. - The company designs and manufactures highly configurable and custom-made equipment, enhancing efficiency, performance, and long-term value for customers [3]. - AAON operates under the AAON and BASX brands and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it has an innovation center and testing lab [3].

Core Viewpoint - AAON, Inc. is actively engaging with investors through participation in D.A. Davidson's Diversified Industrials & Services Conference, highlighting its commitment to transparency and investor relations [1][2]. Company Overview - AAON, Inc. is a global leader in HVAC solutions, founded in 1988, specializing in high-performance and energy-efficient systems for commercial, industrial, and data center environments [3]. - The company designs and manufactures highly configurable and custom-made equipment, enhancing efficiency, performance, and long-term value for customers [3]. - AAON operates under the AAON and BASX brands and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it has a world-class innovation center and testing lab [3]. Event Participation - The CEO & President, Matt Tobolski, will participate in a 40-minute fireside chat with D.A. Davidson analyst Brent Thielman on September 18, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. EDT [2]. - A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on AAON's Investor Relations website, indicating the company's focus on accessibility for investors [2].