Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 10/30/2025

Happy Thursday. Today’s roster is all about recent ratings changes — 2 upgrades and 2 downgrades. 

• Hot: AbbVie (ABBV) looks poised for impressive price action; American Express (AXP) makes power moves
• Not: S&P Global (SPGI) fails to impress; Applied Materials (AMAT) shows cracks in the facade

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

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🔥 HOT: AbbVie (ABBV) is a defensive powerhouse available at what looks like a discount. The pharmaceutical giant’s price action has been flat for the past month or so, but that could change in the near future. The stock just got an upgrade from Hold to Buy in our Zen Ratings system. A few reasons why: A) It might be a great value. Recent analyst coverage has referred to ABBV as a "deep discount before earnings.” 2) Its pipeline flush with key wins. 3) Billionaire investor Israel Englander just loaded up on ABBV shares, backing the narrative that AbbVie’s story is still being written. Digging into the fundamentals via ABBV’s Component Grades, it’s a fortress when it comes to Safety (Component Grade: A) and Financials (B), and the fact that it’s in an A-rated Industry doesn’t hurt (read more about why Industry Ratings matter here). ABBV’s fundamentals, institutional backing, and its status as a dividend king all make it watchlist-worthy.

🥶 NOT: S&P Global (SPGI) is a market mainstay, but it doesn’t appear poised to deliver market-beating returns, as evidenced by its recent downgrade to Hold territory in our Zen Ratings system. Digging into the Component Grades for clues as to why, Growth has cooled off considerably — it currently only earns a D grade, ranking in the bottom 20% of stocks we track in this category, with unimpressive Cs in most other categories including Value, Momentum, and Financials. Despite some bullish news flashes suggesting positive earnings ahead, not much is sparking; with no clear standout growth drivers, this stock looks more like a market placeholder than a shot-caller.  

🔥 HOT: Is American Express (AXP) leading the charge on potential gains? The stock was just upgraded from a Hold to Buy rating in our Zen Ratings system on the heels of a blowout Q3 and raised full-year guidance. The stock has surged as much as 20% recently, outpacing peers and signaling that Amex’s strategic push into high-end travel is captivating big spenders. The Component Grades that shape the overall Buy rating demonstrate two key areas of strength: An exceptional A grade for Safety and a respectable B grade for Momentum, indicating the stock has potential to keep upleveling without adding undue risk to your portfolio. With analysts expecting Amex to beat the S&P 500 for a sixth straight year and the sector’s general heat (Industry rating: A), American Express is sending all the right signals right now. 

🥶 NOT: The semiconductor party is raging. Is it time to buy Applied Materials (AMAT)? Not according to our Zen Ratings system, which just downgraded the stock to a C (Hold) rating. The stock is up 11% in the past month and 20% in the past year, but the fundamentals indicate a few cracks in the facade. First up, let’s look at the Component Grade for Growth, a key area to look at for potential prolonged price increases. AMAT only earns a D, indicating it’s in the bottom third of stocks we track in this arena. Sentiment only earns a C rating, possibly due to bearish expectations for lower profits in the next earnings report and continued tech layoffs shadowing the sector. As a C-rated stock in a C-rated industry, AMAT is a hold at best. 

What to Do Next?

• 77 Best Stocks NOW! >
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