Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 12/04/2025

Happy Thursday. Here’s what’s hot and what’s not today:

• Hot: Kohl's (KSS) catches a fresh Zen Ratings upgrade; Amgen (AMGN) enjoys a biotech rally moment
• Not: Lucid Group (LCID) shows weak fundamentals; CleanSpark (CLSK) gets downgraded

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🔥 HOT: Department store stalwart Kohl's (KSS) just earned a notable upgrade in our Zen Ratings system, jumping from a C (Hold) to a B (Buy). The stock has surged over 43% in the past month, climbing well above its moving averages and signaling a fresh wave of momentum. Right now, KSS earns a Zen Rating of 90.4, placing it in the top 10% of stocks we track based on our 115-factor analysis and giving it an overall B (Buy) rating. The stock's Component Grades reveal particular strength in Sentiment, where it earns a standout B rating, indicating growing investor confidence. Value also clocks in at B, suggesting the stock may still be reasonably priced despite its recent run-up. The company ranks an impressive 2nd out of 3 stocks in the Department Store industry, which itself earns an A grade — a rare bright spot in the retail landscape. Even with middling Cs in Growth, Momentum, Financials, and AI, the overall picture suggests a company that's catching fire at the right time.

🥶 NOT: Even yesterday’s crypto mini-rally yesterday couldn’t edge CleanSpark (CLSK) off of the “not hot” list. Despite bullish headlines about pivoting to AI and high-performance computing, CLSK earns a Zen Rating of D (Sell), ranking in the bottom 8% of stocks we track.

The Component Grades tell a challenging story. CleanSpark scores an F for Safety and Ds for Sentiment, and our AI factor — the latter a bit ironic given the company's much-touted AI ambitions. (Here’s how to use AI to find better stock picks.) Growth and Financials both earn middling Cs. The company ranks 58th out of 61 stocks in the Capital Market industry, which itself struggles with a D rating. While some analysts are excited about CleanSpark's potential as a hybrid AI data center and Bitcoin play, the weak Component Grades and recent downgrade suggest the market isn't buying the story just yet. The combination of poor Safety and Sentiment scores is particularly concerning for a speculative growth play. 

🔥 HOT: Biotech giant Amgen (AMGN) is enjoying a jet-fueled moment, with shares up 17% in the past 3 months, with positive clinical trial results and strong Q3 earnings driving investor enthusiasm. It’s not just hype — the company just scored a significant upgrade in our Zen Ratings system, jumping to a B (Buy) rating. Why the upgrade? Digging into the Component Grades for more insight, you'll find a stellar A rating for Financials (the “boring” gateway to exciting gains), signaling rock-solid fundamentals and operational excellence. The stock also scores above-average Bs for Value, suggesting it remains attractively priced despite the recent rally. With a C in Sentiment, there's room for more investor attention to shift toward this biotech powerhouse, which currently ranks in the top 10 among stocks we track in the General Drug Manufacturer industry, which itself earns an A grade. Our take? The recent upgrade to Buy, combined with positive regulatory tailwinds and outstanding Financials and a strong industry position, make this biotech giant too compelling to ignore. 

🥶 NOT: Strong sell alert! Despite some optimistic headlines about a potential EV turnaround, Lucid Group’s (LCID) fundamentals tell a sobering story. The stock is down 20% in the past month, and our Zen Ratings system paints a picture of a company struggling on nearly every metric. LCID earns a dismal F rating overall, placing it in the bottom 1% of stocks we track — a red flag that's hard to ignore. The Component Grades reveal the extent of the problems — LCID earns an F for Value, Sentiment, and Financials — a trifecta of weakness that suggests serious operational and market perception challenges, backed up by D grades for Momentum, Safety, and our proprietary AI factor. (Related: When Is it Time to Sell a Stock?) The company ranks 25th out of 27 stocks in the Auto industry, which itself limps along with an F rating. The bottom line? Lucid's weak fundamentals and rock-bottom Zen Rating suggest this EV maker has a long road ahead.  

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