Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 09/26/2025

It’s Friday. Let’s get the day started right: 

• HOT: Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Amazon (AMZN) are heating up — GILD is soaring on a recent FDA approval, while AMZN flexes its AI and logistics muscle 
• NOT: Qualcomm (QCOM) and Microsoft (MSFT) are cooling — QCOM was downgraded to a Hold despite mixed fundamentals, and MSFT’s growth has stalled with middling grades, leaving both more lukewarm than breakout-ready.

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

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🔥 HOT: Gilead Sciences (GILD) is sizzling this week after scoring a high-profile FDA approval for a new drug — and in an industry where pipeline power and innovation rule, that kind of regulatory win is like rocket fuel. The firm is also growth-minded, with a $32 billion investment to expand US manufacturing. The Zen Rating system rewards Gilead with a strong B grade; the stock ranks in the 90th percentile of the thousands of stocks we track. Digging into the Component Grades to see what makes it special, you’ll find Bs for Financials, Safety, and Value, underscoring why investors see it as a fortress in a choppy biotech sector. Considering these factors and the highly-rated industry, it might be a worthwhile addition to your watchlist. 

🥶 NOT: Qualcomm (QCOM) is up 5% in just the past week. But before you jump on board, consider this: our Zen Ratings system just downgraded it to a C (Hold). The stock tells a best of times, worst of times story: it has As in Value, Financials, and AI — yet at the same time, it has a D for Growth and Cs for Momentum, Safety, and Sentiment. Additionally, QCOM only scores 24 out of 70 stocks in the Semiconductor industry. Considering the most bullish news comes from tech releases rather than fundamental changes, and even there, the impact on demand and earnings is unclear. With little to substantiate immediate upside potential, it remains a Hold. Qualcomm isn’t broken, but it’s not breaking out, either.

🔥 HOT: Don't let Amazon’s (AMZN) recent dip fool you — there’s serious heat beneath the surface. Despite prominent news about a big lawsuit, there’s still a lot to like about the e-commerce and cloud titan as it expands its footprint in logistics and artificial intelligence. Like its newly launched multi-channel fulfillment for juggernauts like Shein, Shopify, and Walmart. This isn't just another retail maneuver — it's a shrewd logistical land grab that amplifies Amazon’s dominance, even as it closes underperforming physical stores. The Zen Rating backs up the optimism with a strong B grade and a sturdy 88th percentile ranking. Amazon dazzles with an A grade in Sentiment (rave reviews for its AI initiatives), plus solid B grades in Financials and AI. Currently ranking the 4th-highest-rated stock in its industry, there are plenty of reasons to keep it on watch. 

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🥶 NOT: Has Microsoft (MSFT) gotten boring? The stock was recently downgraded to a C (Hold) in our quant ratings system, which prompted us to take a look — and things are looking lukewarm. While the company recently announced it’s integrating Anthropic’s AI models into its workplace assistant Co-Pilot, it hasn’t poven a revenue revelation. Shares have cooled to the $507 range, with several Component Grades (Value, Growth, Sentiment, Safety) languishing at C. Right now, without a knockout earnings or revenue figure to wow the crowd, Microsoft remains a core blue chip but offers neither breakout upside nor a reason to panic sell. Considering it’s #48 out of the 122 stocks in its industry, investors seeking growth may want to seek elsewhere. (See the stocks that rank higher than MSFT here.)

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