5 Stocks to Watch: Week of 9/29/2025

Hello and a fine weekend to you. Here's what we'll be watching next week:

• Carnival Corp (CCL) is on a tear — signs point to continuation
• Ralph Lauren (RL) is a quiet, but definitive, Strong Buy stock with plenty of attractive attributes
• Pharma heavyweight Eli Lilly (LLY) is riding the weight-loss drug boom with strong analyst support
• Blue Bird (BLBD) is a school bus maker turned electrification play with strong financials and analyst conviction.
• With a fantastic earnings guidance upgrade, Tutor Perini (TPC) appears poised for great things

(Missed last week’s picks? Get them here).

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1- Tutor Perini (NYSE: TPC)

TPC found a place in our exclusive Zen Investor portfolio earlier this month. It’s the highest-rated stock in its industry — it’s also one of the highest-rated stocks overall. A recent earnings beat has put the stock in the limelight — and once you see how earnings estimates have changed, you’ll likely want to scoop up some shares while they’re still relatively cheap.

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

Recent Price: $64.33 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $75.00

Why we’re watching:

• TPC is our Stock of the Week. Our Editor-in-Chief, Steve Reitmeister, explained what makes Tutor Perini such an attractive pick in a Monday article. We’ll summarize some of the key points below.
• At present, Tutor Perini has a Zen Rating of A, and is rated 3rd overall out of the roughly 4,600 stocks that we track.
• TPC is also the highest-rated stock in the Engineering & Construction industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• The stock blew everyone’s mind this earnings season. While the company did provide a modest 12% earnings beat, guidance was the star of the show — earnings estimates for this year nearly doubled from $1.81 to $3.34, which has also led to an increase in earnings prospects for 2026, 2027, and beyond.
• TPC ranks in the top 26% of stocks when it comes to Value, and the top 17% in terms of Artificial Intelligence.
• However, Momentum and Growth are Tutor Perini’s strongest suits — in these categories, the stock ranks in the 96th and 99th percentile, respectively. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

2- Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) 

Despite a significant drop on account of tariff worries earlier this year, Ralph Lauren has more than made up the losses. RL shares are up 35.59% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis — and with a dominant position in its industry and a hefty checkbook at its disposal, it’s little wonder that analysts are bullish.

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

Recent Price: $302.44 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $406.00 

Why we’re watching:

• Ralph Lauren shares enjoy extensive bullish coverage from Wall Street analysts. At present, RL has 7 Strong Buy ratings, 3 Buy ratings, and 1 Hold rating. See the ratings
• In addition, the average 12-month price forecast for RL shares, currently pegged at $338.33, implies a healthy 7.76% upside.  
• Jefferies researcher Ashley Helgans (a top 24% rated analyst) recently maintained a Strong Buy rating on the stock, and increased her price target from $325 to $365.
• Helgans backgrounded their price target hike on Ralph Lauren by opining that the company's brand elevation journey and growth strategy have plenty of runway ahead, and management's medium-term guidance is conservative.
• The stock's broad-based momentum should continue, the analyst concluded.
• Ralph Lauren is currently the 3rd highest-rated stock in the Apparel Manufacturing industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Our quant rating system, Zen Ratings, evaluates more than 4,600 stocks on the basis of 115 proprietary factors. Stocks in the top 15%, like RL, have a Zen Rating of B, and have historically provided an average annual return of 19.88%. 
• To understand why Ralph Lauren shares are rated so highly, we have to take a look at their Component Grade ratings. For instance, RL ranks in the top 10% of equities with regard to Financials.
• Sentiment, which measures analyst ratings, insider transactions, and short selling, is RL’s strongest suit — in this category, the stock ranks in the 92nd percentile. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

3- Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) 

Eli Lilly is a bona fide pharma powerhouse. As one of the primary beneficiaries of the weight loss drug boom, the company has seen a significant increase in stock price — and although it is down on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, Wall Street remains confident that there’s plenty of room for LLY to rally further. 

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

Recent Price: $715.25 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $1135.00

Why we’re watching:

• The pharma giant enjoys broad, bullish coverage from Wall Street equity researchers. LLY currently has 7 Strong Buy ratings and 2 Hold ratings. See the ratings 
• The average 12-month price forecast for Eli Lilly shares currently sits at $899.78, and implies a hefty 17.94% upside
• JP Morgan’s Chris Schott (a top 22% rated analyst) recently doubled down on a Strong Buy rating for the stock, but reduced his price target from $1,100 to $1,050.
• Eli Lilly is currently the 3rd highest-rated stock in the General Drug Manufacturer industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• LLY stock currently ranks in the top 6% of the stocks that we track, affording it a Zen Rating of B
• Eli Lilly shares are quite well-rounded in terms of their Component Grade ratings. For instance, LLY ranks in the 80th and 81st percentiles when it comes to Sentiment and Artificial Intelligence.
• In terms of both Value and Financials, LLY ranks in the top 17% of the equities that we track.  
• However, Growth is the star of the show — here, Eli Lilly ranks in the top 13%. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

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4- Blue Bird Corp (NASDAQ: BLBD) 

Fun fact: This is the leading manufacturer of school buses in the United States. Blue Bird Corp has carved out a strong niche for itself, and by heavily investing in electrification, the company is well-positioned to align with state and federal initiatives to modernize school transportation while retaining the benefit of deep customer relationships.

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

Recent Price: $57.91 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $65.00 

Why we’re watching:

• At present, Blue Bird Corp shares have 3 Strong Buy ratings and 1 Buy rating. See the ratings  
• BTIG equity researcher Gregory Lewis (a top 4% rated analyst) recently maintained a Strong Buy rating on BLBD and hiked his price target from $55 to a Street-high $65.
• The stock price has gained ~30% since Blue Bird reported its Q3 2025 earnings on 2025/08/06, Lewis told readers. The analyst attributed the move to the earnings beat and increased guidance as management continues to execute on the top line and costs.
• Blue Bird's gross margins increased by 240 bps during the trailing-12-month average period and are expected to further expand, Lewis said, citing rising volume and firming average sales prices.
• BLBD ranks in the top 3% of the stocks that we track, giving it a Zen Rating of A, which has historically corresponded to average annualized returns of 32.52%.
• In terms of Value, the stock ranks in the 85th percentile, as it is currently trading at an attractive P/E ratio of just 16.57x.
• Growth is another strong point — when it comes to this category, Blue Bird Corp ranks in the top 10% of equities.
• However, the balance sheet is the ace up BLBD’s sleeve — when it comes to Financials, the stock ranks in the top 1%. (See all 7 Zen Component Grades here >)

5- Carnival Corp (NYSE: CCL) 

Carnival Corp has staged an impressive post-pandemic recovery, with occupancy rates nearing historic levels. The cruise giant has also made headway on deleveraging its balance sheet, trimming billions in debt while improving margins. Yet despite the rebound, CCL remains well below its pre-COVID highs — and while macro worries remain, long-term investors are presented with a discounted entry into a resurging industry leader.

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

Recent Price: $30.60 — get current quote > 

Max 1-year forecast: $39.00 

Why we’re watching:

• CCL shares currently have 8 Strong Buy ratings, 3 Buy ratings, and 3 Hold ratings. See the ratings  
• Brandt Montour of Barclays (a top 5% rated analyst) recently doubled down on a Strong Buy rating on Carnival Corp stock, and increased his price target from $33 to $39. 
• In a preview note, Montour told readers to expect a beat and raise print buttressed by upbeat commentary from management about Celebration Key's launch.
• Carnival is enjoying solid booking trends, the analyst backgrounded.
• CCL is currently the 4th highest-rated stock in the Travel industry, which has an Industry Rating of A.
• Carnival Corp ranks in the top 11% of stocks. This gives it a Zen Rating of B, which has historically corresponded to an average annual return of 19.88%.
• One of the stock’s biggest advantages is its attractive valuation — CCL is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 15.96x, and ranks in the 90th percentile when it comes to Value.
• However, Sentiment is Carnival Corp’s strongest suit — in this category, it ranks in the top 2% of equities. (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 >
• 2 New Stocks to Buy from Steve Reitmeister >

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