3 New Strong Buy Ratings from Top-Rated Analysts: 02/17/2026

Here’s a peek at the latest picks from our Strong Buy Stocks from Top Wall Street Analysts screener:

• BorgWarner (BWA) - Q4 earnings beat fuels $82 price target optimism
• Vertiv Holdings (VRT) - AI boom drives 252% order surge, 20% weekly gain
• Ross Stores (ROST) - Beat-and-raise quarter proves off-price retail dominance

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1. Borgwarner (NYSE: BWA)

The company is capitalizing on both traditional automotive demand and emerging opportunities in data center power infrastructure, creating a flexible growth strategy that's attracting renewed analyst attention following its recent Q4 earnings beat.

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

Recent Price: $62.80 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $82.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: The stock has garnered attention from 11 analysts we track, with 5 Strong Buy ratings, 2 Buy ratings, and 4 Hold ratings, reflecting an overall Buy consensus. See the ratings
• Goldman Sachs researcher Kash Rangan (a top 16% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $78 price target following the company's Q4 earnings results. The Deutsche Bank analyst recently upgraded the stock to Strong Buy with an $82 price target, the highest on Wall Street, reflecting confidence in BorgWarner's diversification strategy beyond traditional automotive markets.
• Industry ranking context: BorgWarner is currently the 4th 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 — BorgWarner ranks in the top 5% of the 4600+ stocks we track. 
• Component Grades: The company shows balanced strength across multiple dimensions, with Growth rated at B, Momentum at B, and AI exposure at B, reflecting its pivot toward next-generation technologies. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

2. Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST)

This off-price retailer delivered a strong "beat and raise" quarter with compelling brand-name values that resonated with shoppers, driving broad-based sales growth and an operating margin that exceeded expectations at 11.6%.

Zen Rating: Buy (B) — see full analysis

Recent Price: $196.54 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $224.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: The off-price retailer has attracted 14 analysts with 8 Strong Buy ratings, 2 Buy ratings, and 4 Hold ratings, resulting in a Strong Buy consensus that reflects confidence in its market positioning. See the ratings
• Citigroup's Paul Lejuez (a top 4% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $224 price target, emphasizing Ross Stores' excellent positioning in the expanding off-price market following its Q3 beat-and-raise performance.
• Wells Fargo researcher Ike Boruchow (a top 6% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $200 price target, noting the company's strong execution by the entire team that led to broad-based sales growth across merchandise areas and geographical regions.
• The company reported Q3 earnings of $1.58 versus estimates of $1.40, beating by 12.86%, with revenue of $5.6B growing 10.11% year-over-year, demonstrating the strength of its value proposition with budget-conscious consumers.
• Industry ranking context: Ross Stores is currently the 3rd highest-rated stock in the Apparel industry, which has an Industry Rating of B.
• Zen Rating highlights: Buy (B) stocks average +19.88%/yr — Ross Stores enjoys above-average status among the thousands of stocks we track. 
• Component Grades: ROST has above-average grades for Financials and Sentiment, indicating a stock beloved by analysts that has its financial books in order. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

3. Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT)

With AI-driven data center expansion fueling exceptional demand, companies like VRT (AI infrastructure providers) are experiencing great demand. The company just reported 252% order growth and delivered strong 2026 guidance that sent the stock soaring 20% in a single week.

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

Recent Price: $234.53 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $290.00

Why we're watching:

• Analyst support: An impressive 13 analysts cover the stock with 8 Strong Buy ratings and 4 Buy ratings, demonstrating exceptional conviction with a Strong Buy consensus. See the ratings
• Citigroup's Andy Kaplowitz (a top 1% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $286 price target, highlighting the company's strong fundamentals and strategic initiatives in the AI infrastructure buildout.
• Barclays researcher Julian Mitchell (a top 1% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a $281 price target following the company's strategic acquisitions that are enhancing its competitive edge.
• The company's revenue is forecast to grow +32.53% year-over-year to $13.6B, with earnings per share expected to jump +54.26% to $5.38, significantly outpacing industry averages.
• Industry ranking context: Vertiv is currently the 6th highest-rated stock in the Electrical Equipment & Part industry, which has an Industry Rating of C.
• Zen Rating highlights: Strong Buy (A) stocks average +32.52%/yr — Vertiv ranks in the top tier of the 4600+ stocks we track and our indicators point to high potential for outperformance.
• Component Grades: VRT enjoys above-average grades in several key areas, including Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, and Financials — suggesting a stock with great upswing potential that has a solid balance sheet. See all 7 Zen Component Grades here

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