5 Stocks to Watch: Week of 8/31/2026

Here's some good news: We did a little of your stock research homework for you for the coming week. Here's what we've got:

• CPI Card Group (NASDAQ: PMTS) just raised guidance + business is growing 
• Generac Holdings (NYSE: GNRC) is quietly becoming an AI data center winner
• Par Pacific Holdings (NYSE: PARR) is selling off dead weight (and lifting its entire business) 
• PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF) is our Trade of the Week (act now!)
• Viavi Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) makes a successful pivot into data center buildout

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1- Par Pacific Holdings (NYSE: PARR)

Par Pacific Holdings refines and distributes fuels including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and marine fuel. The company is sharpening its focus by selling its Laramie Energy assets, while tight fuel inventories could help keep refining margins strong.

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

Recent Price: $77.04 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $95.00

Why we're watching:

• PARR has solid, bullish coverage among the analysts we track, with 4 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, and 1 Hold recommendations. See all recommendations here
• For example, TD Cowen researcher Jason Gabelman (a top 13% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy rating with a price target representing roughly 30% upside from current levels. 
• Separately, Goldman Sachs researcher Neil Mehta (a top 5% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy rating with a price target representing roughly 25% upside potential from current levels. 
• Four additional top analysts covering PARR all maintain positive outlooks on the company's refining operations.
• Industry ranking context: PARR is currently the #3 highest-rated stock in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Ratings highlights: PARR earns an overall A rating, a Strong Buy recommendation. Stocks in this elite tier have consistently outperformed with nearly 30% average annual returns.
• Component Grades: PARR stands out with A grades for Artificial Intelligence, Safety, and Value, reflecting a compelling risk-reward profile and attractive valuation, while maintaining solid Bs for Financials, Growth, and Momentum. See all 7 Component Grades here

2- CPI Card Group (NASDAQ: PMTS)

CPI Card Group makes payment cards for banks and prepaid programs, and the business is gaining momentum. Strong Q2 results, higher full-year guidance, and its TRISM acquisition are expanding both its market opportunity and growth potential.

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

Recent Price: $28.95 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $34.00

Why we're watching:

• PMTS has limited, but very bullish, coverage among the analysts we track, with 1 Strong Buy recommendation. See all recommendations here
• That comes from DA Davidson researcher Peter Heckmann (a top 5% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with a price target representing nearly 30% upside potential from current levels. 
• Noteworthy catalyst: Q2 earnings demonstrated execution strength: EPS of $0.56 beat estimates by 24.44% with 1,300.00% year-over-year growth, while revenue of $149.18M exceeded expectations by 5.13% with 14.85% YoY growth.
• Industry ranking context: PMTS is currently the #1 highest-rated stock in the Credit Service industry, which has an Industry Rating of C.
• Zen Ratings highlights: PMTS earns an overall A rating, which amounts to a Strong Buy recommendation. Stocks with this rating have historically delivered nearly 30% annual returns, handily outpacing the broader market.
• Component Grades: PMTS maintains strong Bs across Value, Growth, Momentum, Safety, and Financials, showcasing a well-balanced profile with solid fundamentals, improving profitability following the TRISM acquisition, and favorable valuation. See all 7 Component Grades here

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3- PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF)

PBF Energy produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined products across its U.S. refining network. Resilient refining margins and improving operations could give the company room to capitalize on a still-favorable supply backdrop.

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

Recent Price: $68.59 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $84.00

Why we're watching:

• PBF has solid coverage among the analysts we track, with 1 Strong Buy, 7 Hold, and 1 Strong Sell recommendations. See all recommendations here
• For example, UBS researcher Manav Gupta (a top 7% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy rating with a price target representing over 20% upside. 
• PBF was also featured as Steve Reitmeister’s Trade of the Week in WallStreetZen’s weekly live webinar, where he highlighted its standout Value profile, strong overall ranking, and exposure to one of the market’s highest-rated industries. To see Steve’s next Trade of the Week live, sign up for the weekly webinar here.
• Industry ranking context: PBF is currently the #5 highest-rated stock in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Zen Ratings highlights: PBF earns an overall A rating, which is equal to a Strong Buy recommendation. Stocks in this topmost tier have historically delivered nearly 30% annual returns, soundly beating the S&P.
• Component Grades: PBF excels across multiple metrics with A grades for Growth, Momentum, and Value, reflecting strong fundamental momentum in the refining cycle, while maintaining solid Bs for Artificial Intelligence and Financials. See all 7 Component Grades here

4- Viavi Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV)

Viavi Solutions makes the testing tools that keep high-speed communications networks running smoothly. Its growth opportunity is AI data centers, where faster optical connections are driving demand for more advanced network testing equipment.

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

Recent Price: $38.00 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $70.00

Why we're watching:

• VIAV has strong, bullish coverage among the analysts we track, with 4 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold recommendations. See all recommendations here
• For example, Rosenblatt researcher Mike Genovese (a top 1% rated analyst) recently maintained his Strong Buy rating with price target representing greater than 80% implied upside in the coming year. 
• Separately, Stifel Nicolaus researcher Ruben Roy (a top 1% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy with a price target suggesting the stock could see nearly 70% upside.
• Three additional top-rated analysts are also on board, all maintaining bullish outlooks on the optical testing market's expansion.
• Industry ranking context: VIAV is currently the #6 highest-rated stock in the Communication Equipment industry, which has an Industry Rating of B.
• Zen Ratings highlights: VIAV earns an overall A rating, which amounts to a Strong Buy recommendation. Stocks with this rating represent the elite top 5% of all 4,600+ stocks tracked based on a rigorous 115-factor fundamental review.
• Component Grades: VIAV excels for Growth with an A grade, reflecting strong revenue expansion driven by AI infrastructure demand, while maintaining solid Bs for Momentum, Sentiment, and Financials, a powerful combination for continued upside. See all 7 Component Grades here

5- Generac Holdings (NYSE: GNRC)

Our latest Stock of the Week! This company makes backup power systems, and AI data centers are becoming a major new growth engine. The company just landed a second hyperscale customer and tripled its U.S. data center capacity to $3.75 billion as demand for large-scale backup generators surges.

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

Recent Price: $197.07 — get current quote

Max 1-year forecast: $340.00

Why we're watching:

• GNRC has strong, bullish coverage among the analysts we track, with 11 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 2 Hold recommendations. See all recommendations here
• For example, UBS researcher Jon Windham (a top 21% rated analyst) maintains his Strong Buy rating with a price target suggesting the stock could see greater than 60% upside in the coming year. 
• Separately, Stifel Nicolaus researcher Stephen Gengaro (a top 4% rated analyst) maintained his Strong Buy with a more modest but still weighty price target that suggests the stock could see greater than 30% upside above current levels.
• It’s also our latest Stock of the Week. In his recent commentary, Zen Investor Editor-in-Chief Steve Reitmeister highlighted the dip-buy potential for this increasingly vital service provider for the AI data center buildout. See his full commentary here.
• Q2 earnings demonstrated execution strength: EPS of $2.91 beat estimates by 76.4% with 76.4% year-over-year growth, while revenue of $1.17B missed expectations by 0.37% with 11% YoY growth.
• Industry ranking context: GNRC is currently the #2 highest-rated stock in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry, which has an Industry Rating of B.
• Zen Ratings highlights: GNRC earns an overall A rating, which amounts to a Strong Buy recommendation. Stocks with this rating represent the elite top 5% of all 4,600+ stocks tracked based on a rigorous 115-factor fundamental review.
• Component Grades: GNRC shines with an A for Growth, reflecting the company's impressive earnings expansion and data center market momentum, while maintaining solid Bs for Financials, Safety, and Sentiment, a combination that positions it well for continued outperformance. See all 7 Component Grades here

What to Do Next?

• 77 Best Stocks NOW! >
• Options Trading with the Zen Ratings >
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