Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 09/10/2026

Happy Thursday. Here's what the Zen Ratings are stocking up on and clearing out today:

• Hot: Specialty materials maker Avient (AVNT) just raised guidance and has the grades to match; parts distributor DXP Enterprises (DXPE) has more than doubled while buying up rivals
• Not: E-commerce giant Coupang (CPNG) is parked at its 52-week low; gold explorer Hycroft Mining (HYMC) is digging deep into its own cash pile

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

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🔥 HOT:  Specialty polymer maker Avient (AVNT) is quietly putting together a strong year. Q2 beat expectations on organic growth, management raised full-year guidance, and the company recently launched its next-generation Dyneema SK80 fiber, expanding one of its most valuable product lines across markets like medical devices, aerospace, and defense. Profit margins have also widened meaningfully, debt relative to shareholder equity has declined, and short-term assets comfortably cover short-term liabilities.

Shares have rebounded more than 50% from their 52-week low while still trading below their recent high, and the valuation remains reasonable, with a P/E well below the broader market average, a PEG below 1, and a dividend yield above 2%. AVNT earns an A Zen Rating, a Strong Buy recommendation, with B grades in Value, Growth, and Safety and nothing worse than a C elsewhere. Ranked #7 out of 51 stocks in an A-rated Specialty Chemicals industry, Avient combines improving fundamentals, raised guidance, and a balanced rating profile with no glaring weak spot.

🥶 NOT: South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang (CPNG), often called Korea’s answer to Amazon, is facing pressure on several fronts. Q2 produced a reported loss and revenue came in below estimates, while margins have swung from positive to negative over the past year. The bigger concern is regulatory. South Korea upheld a record $422 million fine, and the dispute has now become tangled in broader U.S.-Korea trade tensions. Meanwhile, leverage has climbed sharply, short-term liabilities exceed short-term assets, and operating losses leave the company with little cushion against its debt load.

Shares have fallen more than 50% from their 52-week high and remain far below their 2021 listing price. CPNG earns an F Zen Rating, a Strong Sell recommendation, with Momentum failing outright and D grades in Value, Growth, and Sentiment. It also ranks dead last at #30 out of 30 stocks in Internet Retail. Coupang still has a powerful market position and enormous revenue base, but with losses widening, financial pressure building, and regulatory uncertainty hanging over the business, the data says this is one to avoid for now.

🔥 HOT: Industrial parts and services distributor DXP Enterprises (DXPE) is scaling aggressively through acquisitions, and so far the strategy is delivering. The company added Mequipco alongside Q2 results after closing General Repair Service earlier in the year, while a new credit facility gives management more firepower for future deals. Analysts expect earnings to grow around 18% annually, roughly twice the industry pace, with EPS potentially rising about 50% over the next three years.

Shares have more than doubled from their 52-week low but remain below their recent high. DXPE earns a B Zen Rating, a Buy recommendation, with B grades in Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, and AI and nothing worse than a C. It also ranks #2 out of 17 stocks in its industry, while recent director purchases add another encouraging signal. The catch is valuation. DXPE trades at a premium to its industry and well above our DCF fair value estimate, so while the acquisition engine looks strong, this may be a stock worth watching for a better entry rather than chasing after the run.

🥶 NOT: Gold and silver explorer Hycroft Mining (HYMC) is sitting on an intriguing Nevada deposit, but the business is still highly speculative. Recent drilling extended high-grade silver at both Brimstone and Vortex, management strengthened the board, and a new technical report pointed to substantial potential value at current metals prices. The problem is that Hycroft still generates no revenue, posted a trailing net loss above $80 million, and continues to burn cash at a rapid pace.

Shares have rebounded sharply from their 52-week low but remain well below their high, while our DCF model still values the stock far below where it trades today. HYMC earns an F Zen Rating, a Strong Sell recommendation, with AI failing outright and D grades across Value, Growth, Sentiment, Safety, and Financials. It also ranks #45 out of 46 stocks in the Gold industry. The exploration results are promising, but until Hycroft can turn that resource potential into a more sustainable financial story, the risk remains too high.

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