Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 01/29/2026

Happy Thursday. Here’s what’s heating up and what’s simmering down in the market: 

• Hot: Dell Technologies (DELL) gains AI momentum; GE Aerospace (GE) climbs on strong orders
• Not: Lucid Group (LCID) stumbles; USA Rare Earth (USAR) disappoints

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🔥 HOT: Despite recent softness, GE Aerospace (GE) remains a high-quality contender for your portfolio. The stock was recently Hold to Buy in our Zen Ratings system, likely for a few reasons 1) Year-over-year revenue and EPS gains suggest business momentum is accelerating. 2) The aircraft sensors market is projected to grow significantly through 2030, with GE positioned as a key player. 3) A strategic partnership with Palantir (see PLTR’s Zen Rating here) hints at AI-driven operational improvements ahead. Right now GE earns a B (Buy) Zen Rating, landing in the 83rd percentile of stocks we track. The stock's strength shows in Momentum (B grade).  Multiple analysts note the growth runway looks longer than the market thinks — but it may not be too late to join what could be a years-long rally. This looks like a buy-the-dip opportunity as the stock consolidates below recent highs.  

🥶 NOT: It may not surprise you to hear that EV maker Lucid Group (LCID) isn’t exactly thriving in the face of changing regulations and being constantly upstaged by the AV sector. Here’s the cold, hard truth: LCID earns an F (Sell) Zen Rating, languishing in the bottom 1st percentile of all stocks we track. The damage is widespread when you check out the Component Grades: F grades for Value, Momentum, Sentiment, Financials, and AI, with only Growth managing a C and Safety scraping a D. The company ranks 21st out of 23 in its Auto industry (F grade). (Looking for a similar, stronger industry? Check out this one.) With the dismal rating and dismal grades across nearly every metric, Lucid looks like a struggling startup burning cash without a clear path to profitability. The EV market is brutal for second-tier players, and LCID's positioning suggests significant headwinds. Unless you're hunting for high-risk turnaround plays, there are better places to park your money.  

🔥 HOT:  Computer hardware heavyweight Dell Technologies (DELL) has lost nearly 30% in the past 3 months. And yet it was just upgraded from Hold to Buy in our Zen Ratings system, with analysts suggesting nearly 75% upside potential in the coming year. We took a look under the hood — and it turns out Dell's strategic expansion into AI-focused education and infrastructure is starting to get noticed. Recent headlines highlight Dell's AI education push potentially shifting its investment narrative, plus CEO Michael Dell's optimism about AI's breakthrough year. Add in news that supplier Pegatron expects its US plant to be completed by the end of March, and the supply chain picture brightens too. The company earns a B (Buy) Zen Rating, ranking in the 86th percentile overall. Its standout strength lies in AI (B grade) and Value (B grade), while Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, and Financials all land at C. The verdict? Dell's transformation from traditional hardware player to AI infrastructure partner appears to be gaining traction and looks like a solid entry point for investors betting on the AI infrastructure buildout.  

🥶 NOT: Don’t mistake volatility for momentum! USA Rare Earth (USAR) has had a heck of a week, gaining over 35% at writing — but the stock was just downgraded to an F rating (Strong Sell) in our Zen Ratings system. Digging into the Component Grades we calculate following a 115-factor review, USAR scores F grades in Value, AI, and overall rating, with Financials and Sentiment barely reaching D. Only Momentum manages a C grade (likely reflecting recent price swings rather than sustainable trends). Oh, and the company ranks 41st out of 42 in the Mining industry (F grade). So. Should you chase the spike? Probably not. USAR's dismal Zen Rating and industry-bottom ranking suggest fundamental challenges that a single day's surge won't fix. 

What to Do Next?

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