Sterling Infrastructure (NASDAQ:STRL) Sets New 12-Month High on Earnings Beat

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $477.03 and last traded at $444.7110, with a volume of 154909 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $455.25.

The construction company reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.63 by $0.45. Sterling Infrastructure had a net margin of 14.14% and a return on equity of 29.81%. The business had revenue of $755.61 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $639.41 million. Sterling Infrastructure has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.450-14.050 EPS.

Sterling Infrastructure announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, November 12th that allows the company to buyback $400.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the construction company to repurchase up to 3.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Key Stories Impacting Sterling Infrastructure

Here are the key news stories impacting Sterling Infrastructure this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat and strong FY2026 guidance — topline and EPS materially exceeded estimates, management raised full‑year targets, and the company provided a large signed backlog that supports 2026 growth. Sterling Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results and Issues Full Year 2026 Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade reflecting the beat and guidance — at least one outlet upgraded Sterling to a Buy and highlighted the company as an AI/data‑center beneficiary, increasing investor optimism about further upside. Sterling Infrastructure Q4 Earnings: The AI Data Center Powerhouse Explodes (Upgrade)
• Positive Sentiment: Sidoti raised and published FY2027 and quarterly EPS forecasts (FY2027 to $14.70 and detailed quarter-by-quarter EPS), signaling sell‑side confidence in sustained high margins and data‑center demand. (Sidoti research note)
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader analyst commentary and comparisons — coverage pieces and sector comparisons (e.g., vs. Granite) provide context for investors weighing STRL in the infrastructure/utility cycle; useful for positioning but not immediate catalysts. Wall Street Bulls Look Optimistic About Sterling Infrastructure (STRL): Should You Buy?
• Neutral Sentiment: Upcoming earnings/coverage previews and market writeups summarize expectations heading into the next reporting cycle; these are informational and may shape short‑term flows. A Look at Sterling Infrastructure’s Upcoming Earnings Report
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and volatility risk — STRL carries a rich trailing P/E (~46) and a beta above 1, so upside from strong results is balanced by a higher multiple and greater sensitivity to market swings; investors should weigh multiple expansion risk if future results disappoint.

Analyst Ratings Changes

STRL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research downgraded Sterling Infrastructure from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $486.00 price target on Sterling Infrastructure and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Sterling Infrastructure in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $413.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Sterling Infrastructure from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Sterling Infrastructure from $355.00 to $460.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $453.00.

Insider Transactions at Sterling Infrastructure

In other news, Director Dana C. O’brien sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total transaction of $820,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 11,498 shares in the company, valued at $4,714,180. The trade was a 14.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Dwayne Andree Wilson sold 2,860 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.00, for a total value of $1,001,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 14,749 shares in the company, valued at $5,162,150. The trade was a 16.24% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 6,860 shares of company stock valued at $2,611,000. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Sterling Infrastructure

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Sterling Infrastructure by 62.0% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,131,751 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $261,129,000 after acquiring an additional 433,311 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Sterling Infrastructure by 29.8% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 955,387 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $324,526,000 after purchasing an additional 219,477 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Sterling Infrastructure by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 739,302 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $170,600,000 after purchasing an additional 3,469 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Sterling Infrastructure by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 689,942 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $211,281,000 after purchasing an additional 83,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Sterling Infrastructure by 84.6% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 654,096 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $222,184,000 after purchasing an additional 299,724 shares during the period. 80.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Sterling Infrastructure Trading Down 7.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $360.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $342.25. The company has a market capitalization of $12.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.51.

Sterling Infrastructure Company Profile

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc (NASDAQ: STRL) is a diversified manufacturer and distributor of essential infrastructure products serving municipal, utility and industrial customers across North America. Through its network of wholly owned subsidiaries, the company designs, engineers and produces a wide range of cast and fabricated solutions tailored to the needs of the waterworks, natural gas, telecommunications, electric, traffic safety and parks & recreation markets.

The company’s product portfolio encompasses ductile iron and composite fittings, valve boxes, manhole frames and covers, water and gas meter sets, street light poles and mounting accessories, traffic sign posts with breakaway systems, bollards and related system components.