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Chicago, IL – November 12, 2024 – Today, Zacks Equity Research like Sterling Infrastructure (STRL - Free Report) .
Time to Buy Sterling Infrastructures Stock for Higher Highs?
Amid a broader post-election rally, quite a few stocks have hit fresh 52-week highs with Sterling Infrastructure being one that stands out in particular.
Soaring over +120% year to date, STRL printed a fresh peak of $201 a share in Monday’s trading session and investors may be wondering if higher highs are ahead.
Sterling’s Strong Q3 Results
Mission-critical projects including data center projects have catapulted Sterling’s growth. Reporting its Q3 results last Wednesday, Sterling achieved 89% operating income growth in its E-Infrastructure solutions segment. Furthermore, total net income increased 56% to $61.3 million or $1.97 per share compared to EPS of $1.26 in the comparative quarter (also a 56% increase).
Surpassing Q3 EPS estimates of $1.68, Sterling has exceeded earnings expectations for seven consecutive quarters posting an average EPS surprise of 21.5% in its last four quarterly reports. This was despite Q3 sales of $593.74 million missing estimates of $599.9 million although this was a 6% increase from $560.35 million a year ago.
Other Financial Highlights
Other financial highlights during Q3 included Sterling’s EBITDA expanding 42% to $100.8 million and a record gross margin of 21.9% compared to 16.4% in the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, Sterling’s cash & equivalents climbed 42% to $648.12 million versus $409.39 million at the end of Q3 2023.
Monitoring Sterling’s Valuation (P/E)
With Sterling’s growth starting to separate the company from many of its competitors, STRL trades at 32.4X forward earnings which isn’t a stretched premium to its Zacks Engineering-R and D Services Industry average of 25.8X.
Rising EPS Estimates
Most intriguing is that earnings estimate revisions for fiscal 2024 and FY25 are up 5% and 1% in the last week respectively. Based on Zacks estimates, Sterling is now expected to post 33% EPS growth this year with its bottom line projected to expand another 2% in FY25 to $6.11 per share.
Bottom Line
Starting to benefit from a positive trend of earnings estimate revisions, Sterling Infrastructure's stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
As one of the hottest stocks in recent years it would be no surprise if STRL shares continued to rise and make new highs. To that point, Sterling has a strong backlog of over $2 billion and continues to move toward large, multi-phase infrastructure projects.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.0 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +44.9%, +48.4% and +55.2% per year.
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Industry Outlook Sterling Infrastructure
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – November 12, 2024 – Today, Zacks Equity Research like Sterling Infrastructure (STRL - Free Report) .
Time to Buy Sterling Infrastructures Stock for Higher Highs?
Amid a broader post-election rally, quite a few stocks have hit fresh 52-week highs with Sterling Infrastructure being one that stands out in particular.
Soaring over +120% year to date, STRL printed a fresh peak of $201 a share in Monday’s trading session and investors may be wondering if higher highs are ahead.
Sterling’s Strong Q3 Results
Mission-critical projects including data center projects have catapulted Sterling’s growth. Reporting its Q3 results last Wednesday, Sterling achieved 89% operating income growth in its E-Infrastructure solutions segment. Furthermore, total net income increased 56% to $61.3 million or $1.97 per share compared to EPS of $1.26 in the comparative quarter (also a 56% increase).
Surpassing Q3 EPS estimates of $1.68, Sterling has exceeded earnings expectations for seven consecutive quarters posting an average EPS surprise of 21.5% in its last four quarterly reports. This was despite Q3 sales of $593.74 million missing estimates of $599.9 million although this was a 6% increase from $560.35 million a year ago.
Other Financial Highlights
Other financial highlights during Q3 included Sterling’s EBITDA expanding 42% to $100.8 million and a record gross margin of 21.9% compared to 16.4% in the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, Sterling’s cash & equivalents climbed 42% to $648.12 million versus $409.39 million at the end of Q3 2023.
Monitoring Sterling’s Valuation (P/E)
With Sterling’s growth starting to separate the company from many of its competitors, STRL trades at 32.4X forward earnings which isn’t a stretched premium to its Zacks Engineering-R and D Services Industry average of 25.8X.
Rising EPS Estimates
Most intriguing is that earnings estimate revisions for fiscal 2024 and FY25 are up 5% and 1% in the last week respectively. Based on Zacks estimates, Sterling is now expected to post 33% EPS growth this year with its bottom line projected to expand another 2% in FY25 to $6.11 per share.
Bottom Line
Starting to benefit from a positive trend of earnings estimate revisions, Sterling Infrastructure's stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
As one of the hottest stocks in recent years it would be no surprise if STRL shares continued to rise and make new highs. To that point, Sterling has a strong backlog of over $2 billion and continues to move toward large, multi-phase infrastructure projects.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.0 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +44.9%, +48.4% and +55.2% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.