Amentum Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMTM) is one of the high-growth industrial stocks to buy. On February 11, analysts at Citizens reiterated a Market Outperform and a $40 price target on Amentum Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMTM). Diverse Capabilities and Merger Propel Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) to Robust Earnings Growth Christian Lagerek/Shutterstock.com The analysts remain bullish on the company’s outlook as it undergoes a transformative merger that has established it as a large service provider with diverse capab ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the investment philosophy focused on identifying mispriced securities through understanding the financial drivers of companies, often revealed by DCF model valuation [1]. Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach is centered on small cap companies across US, Canadian, and European markets [1]. - The methodology is flexible, not confined to traditional value, dividend, or growth investing, but considers all prospects of a stock to assess risk-to-reward [1].

Core Viewpoint - Sterling Infrastructure is experiencing significant growth driven by the booming data center market, with expectations of 79% growth in the upcoming quarter [1] Company Summary - Sterling Infrastructure's stock price is currently at $347.44, reflecting a 10.17% increase [1] - The company has shown accelerated earnings and revenue growth, which is anticipated to continue into Q4 [1] - The data center market has surged more than 125% in Q3, indicating strong demand and growth potential [1] - Sterling Infrastructure has achieved a Composite Rating of 97 out of 99, placing it in a strong position within its industry [1] Industry Summary - The data center market is experiencing rapid expansion, contributing to the performance of companies like Sterling Infrastructure [1] - The industry group ranking for Sterling Infrastructure is 43 out of 197, highlighting its competitive position [1] - The overall market sentiment is positive, with several companies in the data center sector, including Sterling Infrastructure, being recognized for their relative strength in a volatile market [1]

Core Thesis - Amentum Holdings, Inc. is positioned as a leading government technology contractor following its merger with Jacobs Solutions, creating a scaled entity with significant revenue and backlog [2][3] Company Overview - Amentum provides engineering and technology solutions to U.S. and allied government agencies, with a pro forma revenue near $14 billion and a backlog exceeding $44.6 billion [2][3] - The company has over 53,000 employees across 80 countries, enhancing its competitive positioning against Tier 1 incumbents like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton [3] Financial Metrics - As of November 28th, Amentum's share price was $28.63, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 106.04 and 12.03 respectively [1] - The market currently undervalues Amentum, pricing it at a forward P/E of 10.4x, reflecting a typical "conglomerate discount" [5] - The company has an Owner Earnings yield of 10.8%, indicating strong free cash flow generation and deleveraging potential [6] Strategic Initiatives - Key value drivers include anticipated cost synergies of $50–70 million, aggressive debt paydown, and expansion of the Digital Solutions segment, which has shown 8% EBITDA margins [5] - Recent contract wins, including a $946 million U.S. Army contract and $350 million in digital task orders, validate the strategic rationale behind the merger [6] Growth Potential - With net leverage improving to 3.5x and a strong pipeline, Amentum presents a compelling risk/reward profile, with potential stock valuation reaching mid-$30s or even $42 with successful growth [7] - The combination of stable revenue, high free cash flow, and operational scale makes Amentum an attractive investment opportunity in the government technology sector [7] Historical Performance - Amentum's stock price has appreciated approximately 53.34% since March 2025, reflecting the successful execution of the bullish thesis on the company [8]

Stock Recommendations - Hold Howmet Aerospace (HWM), noting its strong performance even when major customers underperform [2][3] - Hold a stock that has fluctuated significantly, influenced by short sellers and a deal with Apollo FTI aviation, despite aviation sector challenges [5] - Sell Iron Mountain if it rallies, despite its 4% yield, due to a negative reevaluation [9][10] - Consider buying Jacobs Solutions at $132, supported by Goldman Sachs' recommendation and positive analyst views [8] - Recommend Booze Allen Hamilton (BAH), citing its low multiple and recovery from a previous issue [12] - Consider Spotify, highlighting its strong subscription business and potential for recovery [15] Investment Strategy & Market Analysis - CNBC Investing Club offers top takeaways and charitable trust moves [1] - Marvell is a good stock, but wait for takeover speculation to subside before recommending [4] - Astera Labs is considered overvalued at 82 times earnings, despite being a good company with triple-digit revenue growth [6][7] - Acknowledge a speculative stock (RKB) with potential, liking it at current prices [10][11] - Intrigued by Lemonade insurance, noting positive reports and its appeal to younger people, suggesting it may not be done growing [14]

Company Performance & Guidance - Jacob Solutions, an engineering company specializing in data centers and reshoring construction, provided weaker guidance for 2026 than anticipated [1] - The weaker guidance for 2026 caused concern among investors [2] Industry Trends & Market Sentiment - The market reacted negatively to Jacob Solutions' guidance, sparking fears about the reshoring building trend [3] - The report suggests the market overreacted to the guidance, with the sentiment being described as "scared" [3] - The idea of a "super cycle" in fracking sand is questioned, suggesting potential overvaluation or misinterpretation of market trends [4]

Group 1 - Jacob Solutions is an engineering company involved in building various infrastructures, including data centers and facilities for drug companies, positioning itself as a key player in the reshoring and construction sector [1][2] - The company provided guidance for 2026 that was weaker than market expectations, which contributed to a sell-off in its stock and raised concerns about the overall health of the reshoring construction market [1][2] - There is a perception that the guidance downgrade may indicate a broader downturn in the reshoring sector, although this is deemed to be unfounded and not reflective of the actual market conditions [3][4] Group 2 - The timing of the guidance downgrade was criticized as being poorly executed, suggesting that it may have exacerbated market fears unnecessarily [4] - Commentary on the concept of a "super cycle" in the industry was mentioned, indicating skepticism about such labels and their implications for market trends [4]

Group 1 - Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) has shown resilience amid recent stock market weakness and is targeting a new buy point, making it a notable stock to monitor as the market recovers from previous losses [2][4] - The company has received an upgrade in its IBD Relative Strength Rating, climbing to 77, indicating improved price performance [4] - The stock is part of a broader industry group that is seeing several stocks near buy points, suggesting potential investment opportunities [4] Group 2 - The overall market is experiencing dips ahead of a jobs report, with specific focus on stocks like Broadcom, KKR, and STRL [4] - There is a notable surge in demand for AI-related stocks, with one stock seeing a 108% increase to its buy point as profits rise [4] - The engineering sector, particularly companies like Sterling Infrastructure, is attempting breakout strategies, indicating a positive outlook for the industry [4]

Investment Strategy & Market Overview - The market is making record highs, prompting a search for safe investment opportunities [1] - A screen was run to identify S&P 500 stocks with above-average growth and below-average price multiples [2] - The S&P 500 is expected to have 125% earnings growth next year and sells for just under 22 times next year's numbers [2] - The analysis initially identified 104 stocks, which was then narrowed down to 86 after excluding energy and materials names [3] - The report favors growth stocks as they are believed to generate significant returns [26] Stock Recommendations & Analysis - T-Mobile is expected to have 194% earnings growth next year and is selling for just over 18 times next year's numbers [4] - Expedia is projected to have 18% earnings growth next year and sells for 13 times next year's numbers, making it cheaper than Booking Holdings at 21 times earnings [5] - Dollar Tree is considered a buy, selling for less than 15 times next year's earnings with a 15% growth rate [6] - Capital One Financial (COF) is projected to have nearly 14% earnings growth next year and sells for roughly 11 times next year's numbers [8] - Citigroup is expected to grow at a 28% clip next year and trades at just 105% times 2026 earnings estimates [10] - Keycorp is expected to grow at a 22% clip next year and trades at just under 11 times next year's numbers [11] - Insight, a biopharmaceutical company, is expected to have 19% earnings growth and trades at just under 12 times next year's numbers [14] - Caterpillar is on track to put up 18% earnings growth and sells for 22 times next year's numbers [15] - Jacobs Solutions should have 16% earnings growth next year and the stock sells for 215% times uh 2020 successments [17] - BXP has a 37% yield even after trimming its dividend [19] Sector Analysis - Financials are highlighted as a strong sector, with 34 out of 86 companies on the initial list coming from this sector [7] - Healthcare has been mostly a wasteland this year, with only four stocks passing the screen [14] - The report expresses a lack of confidence in energy stocks due to limited growth prospects [26]