3 New Strong Buy Ratings from Top-Rated Analysts: 01/22/2026

Just for you … Here are the latest picks from our most popular scanner:

• Criteo S.A. (CRTO) offers a compelling contrarian setup 
• NerdWallet (NRDS) amps up engagement 
• Standard Motor Products (SMP) grabs attention as a high-quality value play 

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1. Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ: CRTO)

Criteo is a classic contrarian setup — trading at a dirt-cheap 6.25x forward earnings while analysts see upside of more than 100% despite recent volatility.

Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $19.49 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $51.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Strong backing from 6 analysts with 4 Strong Buy ratings, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold. See the ratings here
• Interestingly, Morgan Stanley's Brian Nowak (a top 4% rated analyst) maintains a Hold rating with a $34 price target (+74% upside), acknowledging the value proposition despite near-term challenges.
• BMO Capital's Brian Pitz (top 11%) holds the highest price target at $51 with a Buy rating, representing potential upside of over 160%, reflecting confidence in Criteo's recovery potential.
• Wells Fargo analyst Alec Brondolo (top 18%) maintains Strong Buy with a $40 target, while Stifel Nicolaus' John Egbert (top 23%) maintains Strong Buy at $41, noting recovery from sluggish Q2 performance.
• Industry ranking context: Criteo is currently the #2 highest-rated stock out of 29 in the Advertising Agency industry, which has an Industry Rating of C.
• Zen Rating highlights: Strong Buy (A) stocks average +32.52%/yr — Criteo's deep value characteristics combined with operational improvements position it for significant mean reversion.
• Component Grades: Value and our AI Factor both receive A grades, indicating a company that’s well-priced and poised to outperform. Financials and Sentiment earn above-average Bs, indicating a company with a solid balance sheet that has a thumbs-up from Wall Street’s brightest and best. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

2. NerdWallet (NASDAQ: NRDS)

The digital finance platform is benefiting from growing user engagement and strong profit margins of 12.2%, with analysts highlighting the company's prudent and resilient business model.

Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $12.84 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $19.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Coverage from 5 analysts includes 3 Strong Buy ratings, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold, with consensus pointing to significant upside potential. See the ratings
• Oppenheimer's Jed Kelly (a top 11% rated analyst) maintains a Buy rating with an $18 price target, expecting NRDS to benefit from growing user engagement and subscription revenue, with the CEO noting strong user growth and retention.
• Truist Securities' Youssef Squali (top 2%) maintains the highest Strong Buy rating with a $19 target, stating "NerdWallet is poised to capture significant market share" and noting that user engagement levels are at all-time highs.
• Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette (top 15%) holds a more conservative $14 Hold rating, anticipating modest growth given current market conditions while acknowledging long-term potential remains intact.
• Barclays' Ross Sandler (top 10%) and KeyBanc's Justin Patterson (top 8%) both maintain Strong Buy ratings with $17 and $16 targets respectively, believing the stock remains undervalued and highlighting the SaaS model's consistent revenue.
• Industry ranking context: NerdWallet is currently the #2 highest-rated stock out of 51 in the Internet Content & Information industry, which has an Industry Rating of B.
• Zen Rating highlights: With its A Rating, NRDS has passed our rigorous 115-factor review to land in the top 5% of stocks we track. 
• Component Grades: NRDS earns an exceptional A grade for Financials, demonstrating operational excellence, with healthy profit margins and strong cash flow generation supporting continued growth investments. Sentiment, Value, and our proprietary AI factor are all above-average Bs, meaning that A) Wall Street sees and appreciates the stock, B) It may be excellently priced at the moment, and C) Our AI factor has sifted through mountains of data to detect positive trends and potential, and finds NRDS a top-tier pick. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

3. Standard Motor Products Inc (NYSE: SMP)

This aftermarket automotive replacement parts company is attracting attention as a value play in the automotive aftermarket sector, with analysts highlighting solid net profit margins and growth potential despite a bumpy near-term ride.

Zen Rating: A (Strong Buy) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $39.14 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $49.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: Right now, only one analyst we track is issuing a rating — but it’s a Strong Buy. However, forecasts are added frequently — keep track of them here.
• Roth Capital analyst Scott Stember recently reiterated the aforementioned Strong Buy rating with a $49 price target, representing 25% upside potential and maintaining confidence based on the company's positive earnings growth.
• The analyst emphasizes that current market conditions are favorable for SMP, with the CEO expressing confidence in growth potential particularly in expanding automotive sector opportunities and improved operational efficiency expected to drive performance.
• Recent coverage highlights include Standard Motor Products being featured among "4 Auto Stocks Wall Street Analysts Are Bullish About for 2026" and recognition as a top growth stock for long-term investors.
• Industry ranking context: Standard Motor Products is currently the 8th highest-rated stock in the Auto Part industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Rating highlights: Strong Buy (A) stocks average +32.52%/yr — SMP benefits from both its operational improvements and the favorable automotive aftermarket dynamics.
• Component Grades: SMP has above-average B grades for Value, Sentiment, and from our Artificial Intelligence factor, indicating a well-rounded and well-priced pick that’s getting seen by Smart Money. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

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