Hot or Not, Stock Market Edition: 12/11/2025

The weather outside is frightful. So are 2 of the stocks on this list … But the other 2 are delightful. Here’s what’s hot and what’s not today:

• Hot: Macy's Inc. (M) surges on earnings beat; MongoDB (MDB) catches fresh wave
• Not: IREN (IREN) drops despite AI pivot; Southern Co. (SO) slips on rate pressure

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🔥 HOT: MongoDB (MDB) has been on a tear. It has climbed 68% over the past three months, and was recently upgraded from Hold to Buy in the Zen Ratings system. What's driving the rally? Strong Q3 results showcased MongoDB's growth in the AI-driven database market, with peers like Snowflake also demonstrating real-world value from AI tools. MDB now earns a B (Buy) rating, ranking in the 92nd percentile overall. The stock scores an A for Growth and Sentiment (99th percentile), B grades for Financials and Momentum, and ranks 13th out of 125 companies in the Software Infrastructure industry.  

🥶 NOT: Utility giant Southern Co. (SO) is down 8% over the past three months and just got downgraded from Hold to Sell. What's weighing on the stock? Despite positive news around a planned $15 billion capacity expansion to meet AI-driven data center demand and new transmission infrastructure projects, SO has been underperforming competitors. The company earns a D (Sell) Zen Rating, ranking in just the 18th percentile overall. It manages a B grade for Safety and C grades across Value, Momentum, Sentiment, Financials, and AI, but scores a D for Growth — reflecting limited upside in the regulated utility model. Near-term momentum is weak, with technical indicators flashing red. The stock ranks 35th out of 39 in the Regulated Electric Utility industry. Verdict: Sell—better opportunities elsewhere until this utility finds its footing.

🔥 HOT: Legendary department store Macy's (M) is up over 30% in the past three months and just got upgraded from Hold to Buy in our Zen Ratings system. The department store retailer has been defying expectations in a tough retail environment — it recently beat earnings expectations and raised full-year guidance, earning analyst upgrades and hefty price target increases. The stock now earns a B (Buy) rating from WallStreetZen, ranking in the 94th percentile of the 4600+ stocks we track. It scores particularly well with an A grade for Value and C grades across Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and AI. The company also ranks first in the Department Store industry. Despite ongoing store closures, the earnings beat and guidance raise suggest the transformation is working.  

🥶 NOT: Bitcoin miner-turned-AI-infrastructure play IREN (IREN) is down 27% in the past month despite a recent bounce, and has been flip-flopping between a Hold and Sell rating in our Zen Ratings, which are updated daily. The issue? IREN dropped $2 billion in convertible notes, raising concerns about dilution and capital needs despite the company's strategic pivot to AI-cloud services with Microsoft backing. The stock earns a D (Sell) rating, ranking in just the 18th percentile overall. It manages a C grade for Momentum and Value, but scores D grades for Safety (here’s why that matters) and AI, with particularly weak marks across most other categories. The company ranks 51st out of 62 in the Capital Market industry. Bulls argue the Microsoft partnership and liquid cooling investments position IREN well for AI infrastructure demand. But the convertible notes raise red flags about the balance sheet, and the Zen Rating suggests the market's concerns are warranted. Verdict: Sell — too many question marks for now.

What to Do Next?

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