A strong stock as of late has been Sterling Infrastructure (STRL). Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 21.2% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $237.7 in the previous session. Sterling Infrastructure has gained 40.5% since the start of the year compared to the 2.5% move for the Zacks Construction sector and the 10.5% return for the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on May 5, 2025, Sterling Infrastructure reported EPS of $1.63 versus consensus estimate of $1.58 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 3.69%.
For the current fiscal year, Sterling Infrastructure is expected to post earnings of $8.6 per share on $2.09 in revenues. This represents a 41.15% change in EPS on a -1.22% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $9.48 per share on $2.26 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 10.1% and 7.97%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
While Sterling Infrastructure has moved to its 52-week high in the recent past, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Sterling Infrastructure has a Value Score of C. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 27.5X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 20.2X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 28X versus its peer group's average of 10.1X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.83. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Sterling Infrastructure currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Sterling Infrastructure meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Sterling Infrastructure shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
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Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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