3 New Strong Buy Ratings from Top-Rated Analysts: 09/05/2025

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

• Serial earnings crusher NetScout (NTCT) could see 30% upside or more in the coming year, according to experts 
• Why Semtech (SMTC) is a great “buy the dip” contender
• Bowman Consulting Group (BWMN) offers a service that won’t go out of style any time soon

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1. Semtech (NASDAQ: SMTC) 

Investors often come across the phrase “buy the dip” — but with Semtech Corp, it’d be more apt to say “buy the plunge.” At one point, SMTC was down 60.24% on the year-to-date (YTD) chart. At present, it’s still in the red — but the losses have narrowed down to 6.46%. The stock has surged by 29.73% in the past month, and with a strong balance sheet and high ratings in terms of Growth, it seems more likely than not that the recovery will continue.

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

Recent Price: $56.88 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $68.00 

Why we’re watching:

• Semtech stock currently has 4 Strong Buy ratings, 3 Buy ratings, and 1 Hold rating. See the ratings  
• Piper Sandler researcher Harsh Kumar (a top 2% rated analyst) reiterated a Strong Buy rating on the stock after the company reported its Q2 2026 earnings, and increased his price target from $55 to $65.
• Kumar called both the quarter's beat and raise and management Q3 guidance "solid."
• At the moment, the analyst said, Semtech is benefiting materially from strength in its FiberEdge segment, for which "the air pocket around ACC continues."
• Overall, Kumar told investors, Piper Sandler is impressed with management's execution and sees "a company set for fundamental upside in 2026."
• Semtech shares rank in the top 11% of the equities that we track, giving them a Zen Rating of B, which has historically corresponded to an average annualized return of 19.88%.
• So, what makes SMTC stand apart? It ranks quite highly — in the 90th percentile, to be exact, in terms of two Component Grade ratings — Growth and Financials. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

2. Bowman Consulting Group (NASDAQ: BWMN)

Bowman Consulting supports both public and private sector clients with planning, surveying, environmental consulting, and construction management. The stock is on quite a run — and with a significant backlog and infrastructure spending set to increase, the future looks bright for BWMN.

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

Recent Price: $42.73 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $55.00 

Why we’re watching:

• At present, 3 Wall Street equity analysts issue ratings for BWMN shares. Their coverage is split between 2 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Buy rating. See the ratings 
• Alex Rygiel of B. Riley Securities (a top 1% rated analyst) maintained a Strong Buy rating on the stock after Bowman Consulting Group reported its Q2 2025 earnings, and hiked his price target from $43 to $55. 
• Having assessed the print, Rygiel said they now have more clarity on the company's 2H 2025 and 2026 prospects.
• The analyst told investors to look for strong results from Bowman Consulting Group in 2H because of its backlog and "national reputation to qualify for larger, more diverse projects."
• Bowman Consulting Group is the 8th highest-rated stock in the Engineering & Construction industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• BWMN ranks in the top 3% of the more than 4,600 equities that we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A, which has historically corresponded to an average annual return of 32.52%.
• In terms of its Growth Component Grade rating, Bowman Consulting Group ranks in the 96th percentile of stocks.
• BWMN has rallied by 71.26% since the start of the year — so it comes as little surprise that it ranks in the top 3% when it comes to Momentum.
• With that being said, Sentiment is BWMN’s strongest suit, as the stock ranks in the top 2% of equities in this category. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

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3. NetScout (NASDAQ: NTCT) 

NetScout develops tools that help organizations detect threats, manage service disruptions, and ensure the reliability of complex, high-volume networks. The company has flown under the radar thus far — however, it has notched an impressive series of consecutive earnings beats, and one of Wall Street’s premier analysts is convinced that NetScout is poised to benefit from two high-growth areas in network security and network monitoring.

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

Recent Price: $24.89 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $33.00 

Why we’re watching:

• Thus far, NTCT has flown under the radar — the stock is only covered by a single Wall Street analyst, who issues a Strong Buy rating. See the rating
• The researcher in question is Erik Suppiger of B. Riley Securities (a top 4% rated analyst), who initiated coverage on NetScout shares on August 26 with a Strong Buy rating and a $33 price target, which implies a 32.58% upside.
• Suppiger recommended that readers buy the network services technologies provider's stock on the recent pullback because "the company addresses two attractive growth markets.
• The analyst argued that NetScout Systems is positioned to benefit from the emergence of AI in both of its markets.
• The Software Infrastructure industry consists of 122 stocks and has an Industry Rating of A. At present, NTCT is the highest-rated stock in the industry.
• NetScout ranks in the top 2% of the equities that we track, giving the stock a Zen Rating of A.
• In terms of its Growth Component Grade rating, NTCT ranks in the 82nd percentile of stocks.
• Sentiment is another of NetScout’s strong suits — in this category, it ranks in the top 14%.
• Lastly, we have Growth — NTCT’s main selling point. With regard to this Component Grade rating, the stock ranks in the top 2%. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

What to Do Next?

• 77 Best Stocks NOW! >
• See All “A” Rated Stocks with +32.52% Average Annual Return >
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