3 New Strong Buy Ratings from Top-Rated Analysts: 07/22/2025

Happy Tuesday! Just for you, here’s a peek at recent upgrades from our Strong Buy Stocks from Top Wall Street Analysts screener:

• STERIS (STE) provides a vital service that’s always in demand 
• Top reasons why analysts forecast over 20% upside for Vontier ( VNT) in the coming year 
• Why smart money believes Ducommun (DCO) could double (or more) in the coming year

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1. STERIS (NYSE: STE) 

STERIS, based in Ohio, makes the equipment and offers the services that keep hospitals, labs, and other medical facilities clean and safe. STE shares surged after an earnings beat in mid-May — they have since retracted back down to pre-earnings levels. The stock ranks quite highly in terms of both Growth and Financials — if the company manages to deliver another beat in its next report, due August 11, another upward move will most likely follow — and Wall Street analysts are confident that this is exactly what will happen.

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

Recent Price: $226.09 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $280.00 

Why we’re watching:

• STERIS stock currently has 4 Strong Buy ratings, 2 Buy ratings, and 1 Hold rating — with no Sell or Strong Sell ratings. See the ratings 
• In addition, the average 12-month price forecast for STE shares, which is currently pegged at $262.71, implies a healthy 14.8% upside.
• Morgan Stanley researcher Patrick Wood (a top 16% rated analyst) recently upgraded STE stock to a Strong Buy, and hiked his price target from $260 to $276.
• Wood attributed their upgrade and price target hike on Steris to Morgan Stanley's analysis suggesting potential margin gains from the shift to E-Beam, consolidation of volumes and pricing power on NESHAP compliance costs, improving bioprocessing trends, and a potential tailwind from Olympus' import ban into the U.S.
• Our proprietary quant rating system, Zen Ratings, takes into account 115 factors that correlate with outsized returns, divided into 7 Component Grade ratings, when evaluating a stock. It ranks STE in the top 2% of the more than 4,600 stocks that we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A — stocks with this distinction have provided an average annual return of 32.52% since the turn of the millennium.
• STERIS maintains a pretty healthy balance sheet, as it ranks in the 90th percentile in terms of Financials. As it happens, it also ranks in the 90th percentile when it comes to Growth.
• However, Artificial Intelligence is STE’s strongest Component Grade rating. In this category, the stock ranks in the top 8% — which means that a neural network trained on two decades of data has picked up on subtle signs that hint at outperformance to come. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

2. Vontier (NYSE: VNT) 

Vontier is in the business of keeping transportation networks up and running. The company handles everything from hardware to fleet management software and payment tech, and services a wide range of customers, spanning everything from your good old gas station to top-tier logistics providers. Right now, VNT stock is trading at a pretty steep discount — and two of Wall Street’s top analysts are confident that there’s plenty of room left for capital appreciation.

Zen Rating: B (Buy) — see full analysis >  

Recent Price: $37.31 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $48.00 

Why we’re watching:

• At present, Vontier stock has 4 analyst ratings — split between 2 Strong Buys, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold. See the ratings
• The average price target for VNT shares is currently $45.75 — a figure that implies a 21.61% upside. 
• Andy Kaplowitz of Citigroup (a top 1% rated analyst) recently maintained a Strong Buy rating on the stock, and increased his price forecast from $37 to $45.
• Kaplowitz's price target hike was delivered in a Q2 2025 preview of names in their Industrial Conglomerates portfolio.
• The analyst predicted robust results from the group and marginal raises to FY 2025 earnings guides.
• Interestingly enough, the Street-high price target of $48 comes from another top-rated analyst — Barclays researcher Julian Mitchell (also a top 1% rated analyst).
• The Scientific & Technical Instrument industry has an Industry Rating of B and consists of 25 stocks — and within it, VNT is currently rated #1.
• Vontier shares rank in the top 6% of the equities that we track — this gives them a Zen Rating of B, which has historically corresponded to average annual returns of 19.88%. It should be noted, however, that VNT is within striking distance of being rated in the top 5%, which would give it a Zen Rating of A.
• There’s plenty to like with our second pick — it ranks quite highly in terms of Financials (top 5%), Value (top 4%), and Safety (top 1%). Beyond a healthy balance sheet, VNT is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.29x and a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.77x, while also benefiting from stable revenue flows, stock price, and predictable earnings. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

3. Ducommun (NYSE: DCO) 

Founded way back in 1849, Ducommun makes a wide variety of crucial aerospace components. As defense modernization programs ramp up, the company’s blend of legacy expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities makes it a compelling player in the aerospace supply chain.

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

Recent Price: $86.30 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $190.00 

Why we’re watching:

• DCO shares enjoy unanimous support from the equity researchers that cover them, as they currently have 3 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Buy rating. See the ratings
• To boot, the average 12-month price forecast for Ducommun stock, currently pegged at $118.50, implies a hefty 36.99% upside.
• Citigroup’s Jason Gursky (a top 2% rated analyst) recently maintained a Strong Buy rating on Ducommun and hiked his price target from $186 to a Street-high $190.
• In an Aerospace and Defense sector quarterly preview note, Gursky noted that stock price momentum continues for names in the group.
• The Defense industry contains 69 equities and has an Industry Rating of B. DCO is currently the 2nd highest-rated stock within the industry.
• At present, Ducommun ranks in the top 2% of the equities we track, giving the stock a Zen Rating of A.
• DCO ranks in the 89th percentile according to its Safety Component Grade rating, as well as the 91st percentile when it comes to Sentiment.
• However, Momentum is the stock’s strongest suit — in terms of this Component Grade rating, the stock ranks in the top 7% of equities. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

What to Do Next?

• 9 Special Stock Lists You Need Now >
• See All “A” Rated Stocks with +32.52% Average Annual Return >
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