Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 06/25/2026

Happy Thursday. Here are the stock stories we're following today:

• Hot: Engineering & construction player Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) is on fire; Tool & accessory maker Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) looks poised to outperform
• Not: EV maker Lucid Group (LCID) is struggling to find its footing; aerospace and defense player Voyager Technologies (VOYG) is cooling off

P.S. For more stocks making moves, check out our Zen Ratings Upgrades & Downgrades screener.

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🔥 HOT: Engineering and construction company Sterling Infrastructure  (STRL) continues to benefit from the AI infrastructure boom, with shares climbing over 110% over the past three months. Investors are increasingly viewing Sterling as a key beneficiary of rising spending on data centers, semiconductor facilities, and other large-scale infrastructure projects. The fundamentals support the move. Sterling recently reported a record backlog, providing strong revenue visibility, while its E-Infrastructure segment continues to capture demand from high-growth end markets. The company also boasts some of the strongest profitability metrics in its industry, helping drive consistent earnings growth. 

STRL holds a B Zen Rating, placing it in the top 6% of stocks based on a 115-factor review. It earns A grades for Financials, Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment. The verdict? Buy. With strong execution, a growing backlog, and exposure to several long-term infrastructure tailwinds, Sterling remains well-positioned for further gains.

🥶 NOT: EV maker Lucid Group (LCID) remains one of the market's weakest-performing EV stocks as investors continue to worry about losses, cash burn, and slowing industry demand.

Recent workforce reductions affecting roughly 18% of employees underscore the company's ongoing efforts to control costs. While Lucid's luxury EV lineup continues to attract attention, the company remains deeply unprofitable and faces significant challenges scaling production while preserving cash. Investors remain focused on when, or if, Lucid can achieve sustainable profitability.

LCID carries an overall Zen Rating of F, ranking near the bottom of all stocks covered by our system. It receives F grades for Value, Momentum, Financials, and AI. The verdict? Strong Sell. Until Lucid demonstrates a clear path to profitability and stronger financial performance, the risk-reward profile remains unfavorable.

🔥 HOT: Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) is gaining momentum as investors become increasingly confident that the company's multi-year turnaround is beginning to take hold. Shares have outperformed many industrial peers recently, supported by improving sentiment and expectations for stronger earnings growth. The company continues to benefit from cost-cutting initiatives, inventory normalization, and a gradual recovery in demand across key end markets. As profitability improves, investors are becoming more optimistic that Stanley Black & Decker can translate operational improvements into stronger earnings and cash flow growth.

SWK currently holds a Zen Rating of B, ranking among the top 11% of stocks based on a 115-factor review. The stock earns strong marks for Growth, Value, and Sentiment. The recommendation is Buy. With improving fundamentals, a strengthening earnings outlook, and attractive valuation metrics, Stanley Black & Decker appears positioned for further upside.

🥶 NOT: Aerospace and defense player Voyager Technologies (VOYG) has lost momentum after a sharp rally earlier this year, with shares falling from recent highs above $50 to around $30 as investor enthusiasm for speculative space stocks cools. The company continues to face significant execution challenges. Voyager remains unprofitable, generates weak financial metrics relative to peers, and operates in an industry where future growth expectations remain high but commercial success is far from guaranteed. Recent volatility across the space sector has only added to investor uncertainty.

VOYG holds a Zen Rating of F, placing it near the bottom of our rankings. The stock receives an F grade for Financials and below-average grades for Value, Growth, Safety, and AI. The verdict? Strong Sell. Until Voyager demonstrates stronger financial performance and a clearer path to sustained growth, investors may find more attractive opportunities elsewhere.

What to Do Next?

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