It's pretty much impossible for investors not to have noticed that technology stocks -- and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in particular -- have dominated the headlines for a while now. You may even own a couple of these names.
Smart investors know, however, that headlines are often backward-looking. If you really want your portfolio to grow, you need to step into the market's next top opportunities before the rest of the crowd discovers them.
To this end (and after a fairly lengthy period of just so-so performance), a handful of industrial stocks look primed for above-average results. Here's a closer look at two of this sector's best bets right now.
Image source: Getty Images.
Vertiv Holdings Making a quick review of Vertiv Holdings' (VRT -4.57%) portfolio of products is indeed a boring endeavor. Industrial-scale power supplies, high-capacity HVAC solutions, and facilities-monitoring tech of all types just aren't exciting.
Now dig deeper and look at who this company's top customers are right now, and will be for the foreseeable future. That's artificial intelligence data center owners and operators who need to make the most efficient use of whatever electricity they can get, and then deal with the enormous heat AI accelerators generate -- two challenges the modern AI industry wasn't fully prepared to tackle in its infancy.
And the numbers prove as much. Vertiv's Q1 revenue grew 30% year over year to $2.65 billion because, in CEO Giordano Albertazzi's words, "We're seeing data center infrastructure requirements evolve significantly, with customers prioritizing optimized design, deployment speed, and operational efficiency -- reshaping their approach to deployment." The company is guiding for comparable sales growth through the rest of the year as well.
The underlying opportunity, however, is far greater in its scope and duration. The data center cooling market is likely to grow at an average annual pace of nearly 12% through 2035, according to an outlook from Precedence Research, which adds that the power management aspect of the business is expected to grow at a slower but steady yearly average of 7% for the same time frame. With partnerships like its one with Nvidia to develop the 800-volt DC (direct current) platforms that are increasingly in demand (due to their heightened efficiency), in addition to its liquid-cooling tech that reduces the consumption of cooling energy by up to 80% (because it makes direct contact with AI processing chips), Vertiv is quietly positioned to win a lot of this growth.
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This might help get you on board: Despite the stock's strong performance over the course of the past couple of years -- in the midst of artificial intelligence mania -- the vast majority of the analyst community still rates this ticker as a strong buy, with a consensus price target of $376.99, which is 24% above Vertiv shares' present price.
Fluor Fluor (FLR -2.01%) is in the construction business, but not in the way you might think. Rather than residential housing, this company designs and builds semiconductor manufacturing facilities, chemical factories, nuclear power plants, airport infrastructure, and more.
Although lucrative, it's a complicated and sometimes unpredictable business. Such large-scale projects typically take time to fund, years to plan, and then years to execute. Much can change during construction, too, including expected costs. That's a problem that came to something of a head in 2023 and has weighed on the stock off and on ever since.
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Nevertheless, Fluor's big enough and has been around long enough to navigate such twists and turns. Since that point in 2023, for instance, the company has successfully fought to make more of its projects reimbursable at Fluor's cost rather than use the flat-price contracts that pose a greater degree of risk. As of March, 82% of its $25.7 billion backlog is reimbursable, versus only 63% as of the end of 2022. This should smooth out bottom-line results for the company and, by extension, for shareholders.
In this vein, although this year's projected revenue of just under $15.9 billion is only a little more than 2% better than last year's top line, analysts are calling for 7.5% sales growth next year, which should boost per-share profits by 27%.
Data source: Morningstar. Chart by author.
Why such a swell of sales growth and outright explosion in profit growth? That's when several sizable, higher-margin projects are expected to fall into place, and some of its older, lower-margin projects will finally be completed. As Standard & Poor's notes, "Over the past few months, Fluor announced several awards it expects will accelerate growth in the second half of 2026 and 2027, including the limited notice to proceed on LNG Canada Phase 2 and TeraWulf's large-scale data center campus." S&P goes on to say, "If moved to execution phase, awards could potentially convert to multiyear mega projects that would fuel revenue growth over the next several years."
This long-term future potential isn't yet priced into the stock. Just know that Fluor should really be viewed only as a long-term, buy-and-hold prospect.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #EnergySolutions--Fluor Awarded Front-End Engineering and Design for Petrochemical Facility in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it has divested its equity stake in ICA-Fluor Daniel to its existing JV Partner, ICA for $175 million.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #FluorBuildsABetterWorld--Fluor Joint Venture Reaches Substantial Completion on Chicago Transit Authority's Red and Purple Line Project.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) will hold a conference call to review results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026. The public is invited to listen to the conference call on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern with Chief Executive Officer Jim Breuer and Chief Financial Officer John Regan. Financial results will be released prior to the market open that day.
The live webcast and a reply will be available with accompanying slides online at investor.fluor.com. The call will also be accessible by telephone at +1 833-461-5787 (U.S./Canada) or +1 585-542-9983. The conference ID is 315702289.
A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days.
About Fluor Corporation
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is building a better world by applying world-class expertise to solve its clients’ greatest challenges. Fluor’s nearly 23,500 employees provide professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. Fluor had revenue of $15.5 billion in 2025 and is ranked 292 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
Fluor (FLR +0.04%), one of the world's largest engineering and construction firms, has overcome many challenges over the past five years. In 2020 and 2021, it experienced severe delays, cost overruns, and execution issues during the pandemic. It stabilized its business over the following two years by shifting from fixed-price megaprojects to reimbursable ones and phasing out its riskier lump-sum projects. Still, new execution issues and macro headwinds throttled its growth.
Fluor is still considered a stable blue chip stock, and its shares have risen about 4% over the past 12 months. Those returns aren't too impressive, but will it climb higher over the next year?
Image source: Getty Images.
What are Fluor's near-term catalysts? More than 80% of Fluor's backlog now consists of reimbursable contracts rather than fixed-price ones, and it expects that percentage to keep rising. The secular growth of the cloud, AI, industrial, and nuclear markets should also generate more tailwinds for its business.
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Fluor also recently liquidated its remaining stake in NuScale (SMR +0.30%), a developer of small modular reactors (SMRs), generating an estimated raw profit of $1.86 billion. As a more streamlined business, Fluor should generate more stable growth over the next few years.
Analysts expect Fluor's adjusted EPS to rise 18% in 2026 and 28% in 2027 as those tailwinds kick in. If it meets those expectations and still trades at 21 times its current-year earnings, its stock could potentially rise about 28% over the next 12 months.
Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends NuScale Power. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Nuclear power is undergoing a renaissance. As global energy demands rise, choosing between Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE 8.31%) and NuScale Power (SMR 0.15%) means weighing early-stage microreactor innovation against a more established small modular reactor leader.
Nano Nuclear Energy targets the portable microreactor niche, while NuScale Power focuses on larger-scale modular designs for utilities. Both companies represent high-risk plays in the nuclear renaissance, seeking to revolutionize carbon-free baseload power through different technical pathways.
The case for Nano Nuclear EnergyNano Nuclear Energy develops portable microreactor technologies, including the KRONOS and ZEUS systems, designed for remote industrial and military use. The company also manages nuclear fuel fabrication and transportation services through collaborations with the University of Illinois and LIS Technologies. Because the firm currently has no definitive commercial customer agreements for its reactor lines, it faces significant customer concentration risks as it seeks its first major contracts.
In FY 2025, Nano Nuclear did not generate any revenue as the company remained in the pre-commercial development phase. This lack of sales resulted in a net loss of nearly $43.5 million for the year. This loss represents a significant increase from the $17.6 million net loss reported in the prior fiscal year, reflecting increased research and development spending.
The business’s debt-to-equity ratio is 0.96x, meaning the company carries some debt relative to shareholder equity, while free cash flow is roughly negative $33.4 million.
The case for NuScale PowerNuScale Power provides small modular reactor (SMR) technology to utilities and data centers, positioning itself as a leader among electric utility stocks. The company relies on its exclusive partnership with ENTRA1 for global commercialization and is currently negotiating a potential 6-gigawatt deployment with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Its NuScale Power Module design remains its primary product, though it has yet to enter into a binding contract for delivery.
In FY 2025, revenue was approximately $31.5 million, a decline of about 15% from the previous year. This revenue drop contributed to a net loss of approximately $355.8 million. The widening loss is largely due to the capital-intensive nature of finalizing reactor designs and preparing for manufacturing at scale.
The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.5x, indicating that total liabilities do not exceed shareholder equity. Free cash flow is negative $460.1 million, which reflects the high cash burn required to sustain operations before any nuclear units are manufactured or deployed.
Risk profile comparisonNano Nuclear Energy faces substantial regulatory hurdles, as its business depends on obtaining complex licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Developing microreactor prototypes is estimated to cost between $300 million and $350 million, creating a high need for future financing. Additionally, the company must successfully integrate recent acquisitions, such as Secured Transportation Services LLC, to maintain its commercialization timeline.
NuScale Power is currently defending itself against multiple securities-fraud class-action lawsuits that could result in high legal costs. The company also lost a key strategic supporter when Fluor Corporation (FLR 0.30%) sold its entire stake in early 2026. Without binding orders for its power modules, the company remains highly susceptible to liquidity shortages and project delays that could impair its long-term viability.
Valuation comparisonDetermining which stock is cheaper is difficult because both companies are currently unprofitable, and one has no revenue, rendering traditional earnings-based metrics inapplicable. The price-to-book ratio, which measures the book value of shares, is about 2 for Nano Nuclear and 3 for NuScale. Stocks with a price-to-book ratio above 3 are usually considered growth stocks, while stocks trading below book value are considered value plays.
MetricNano Nuclear EnergyNuScale PowerSector BenchmarkForward P/En/an/a31.3xP/S ration/a116xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLI sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Nuclear energy in the U.S. is reviving as the threat of climate change and AI data center electricity demand are among finding a source of clean, new power a priority.
The emergence of small-scale nuclear reactors, such as those from Nano Nuclear and NuScale, shows promise of making the deployment of nuclear energy far faster and cheaper than it has been historically. The nuclear industry is also seeing strong federal government support, beginning under the Biden administration and continuing under the current administration.
Nano Nuclear’s plan to target the Defense Department as a major customer is a good one: the military has long been concerned about the disruptive nature of climate control and sees nuclear power as a way to harden military bases with a reliable energy source for when bases get cut off from local power grids during storms. The Pentagon also sees small deployable reactors as a better way to power isolated bases rather than managing a diesel fuel supply chain.
NuScale, meanwhile, has an approved reactor design that uses the nuclear fuel most commonly available today: low-enriched uranium (LEU). By contrast, Nano’s design uses high assay LEU, or HALEU. Not much HALEU is available today, but it is a much more efficient, higher-uranium-content fuel, which means reactors can go decades without refueling. (The U.S. Navy uses an even higher assay nuclear fuel that is not allowed in non-military applications.)
There are plenty of other design differences that set Nano’s and NuScale’s reactors apart from competing designs. The main thing for investors is: which one will make money?
Nano Nuclear is awaiting approval of its design to begin construction of a test reactor at the University of Illinois in 2027. Commercialization of the design is years away. Wall Street analysts don’t project the business making more than a handful of dollars until 2030, when about $110 million in sales are expected, if all goes well.
NuScale provides the most predictable path to commercialization sooner with its approved design. Long-term, however, HALEU-fueled reactors are seen as the future, whether from Nano or other companies developing designs. Betting on how the fuel market develops is more speculative, though. Analysts see NuScale as getting to market sooner and generating real revenue of about $175 million in 2027, with growth beyond.
Both businesses are long-term plays that will lose money for the foreseeable future. But clean nuclear power is on its way. NuScale is the best stock to play the trend in 2026.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026. “I am encouraged by the significant number of new awards we secured in recent months across diverse markets, including gas-fueled and nuclear power, refining, data centers, mining, and uranium enrichment. Our pipeline of work is expanding, and we see compelling opportunities across each of our core markets,” said Jim Breuer, Fluor's Chief Executive Officer. “The.
Fluor (FLR - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.14 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.66 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.73 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -78.63%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this engineering, construction and operations company would post earnings of $0.34 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.33, delivering a surprise of -2.94%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.
Fluor, which belongs to the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry, posted revenues of $3.66 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.63%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.98 billion. The company has not been able to beat consensus revenue estimates over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Fluor shares have added about 28.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 7.2%.
What's Next for Fluor?While Fluor has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Fluor was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.67 on $3.8 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.75 on $16.03 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Engineering - R and D Services is currently in the top 41% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Shimmick Corporation (SHIM - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 14.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.03 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +86.4%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Shimmick Corporation's revenues are expected to be $131.3 million, up 7.5% from the year-ago quarter.
U.S. stocks traded mostly higher midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining 1.5% on Friday.
The Dow traded down 0.06% to 49,564.80 while the NASDAQ gained 1.50% to 26,191.87. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.79% to 7,394.79.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Information technology shares jumped by 2.1% on Friday.
In trading on Friday, health care stocks fell by 0.9%.
Top Headline
Fluor Corp (NYSE:FLR) shares dipped around 12% on Friday after the company reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results.
Fluor reported quarterly earnings of 14 cents per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of 62 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.663 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $3.894 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Equities Trading DOWN
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 1.1% to $95.85 while gold traded up 0.6% at $4,739.50.
Silver traded up 1.6% to $81.450 on Friday, while copper rose 1.6% to $6.2765.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 declined 0.4%, while Spain's IBEX 35 Index fell 0.4%. London's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%, Germany's DAX fell 0.8%, while France's CAC 40 declined 0.7%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed lower on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.19%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declining 0.87%, China's Shanghai Composite falling 0.003% and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.66%
Economics
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MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA) CFO Acquires $71,093.12 in StockMarketBeat
MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) CFO Julie Beck bought 448 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $158.69 per share, with a total value of $71,093.12. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief financial officer owned 3,825 shares of the company's stock, valued at $606,989.25. This represents a 13.27% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.
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Read MSA Safety Incorporporated (NYSE:MSA) CFO Acquires $71,093.12 in Stock
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Insider Selling: NBT Bancorp (NASDAQ:NBTB) Director Sells 2,100 Shares of StockMarketBeat
NBT Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:NBTB - Get Free Report) Director Heidi Hoeller sold 2,100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.03, for a total transaction of $100,863.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 11,560 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $555,226.80. This represents a 15.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.
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IGM Financial Inc. (TSE:IGM - Get Free Report) Director Douglas Milne sold 1,600 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$80.61, for a total value of C$128,976.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 800 shares in the company, valued at C$64,488. The trade was a 66.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock.
TSE:IGM
Read Douglas Milne Sells 1,600 Shares of IGM Financial (TSE:IGM) Stock
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GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ:GFS) Insider Michael James Hogan Sells 2,800 SharesMarketBeat
GlobalFoundries Inc. (NASDAQ:GFS - Get Free Report) insider Michael James Hogan sold 2,800 shares of GlobalFoundries stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.17, for a total value of $210,476.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 6,695 shares in the company, valued at $503,263.15. This trade represents a 29.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
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Key Takeaways FLR posted adjusted EPS of $0.14 and revenues of $3.66B, both below consensus.FLR took charges from an Afghanistan court ruling and a fixed-price mining project cost overrun.FLR cash rose to $3.19B on NuScale share-sale proceeds; it repurchased $516M in stock. Fluor Corporation (FLR - Free Report) delivered a weak first quarter of 2026, with adjusted earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and declining on a year-over-year basis.
Fluor's first-quarter results were pressured by an adverse legal ruling tied to legacy Afghanistan-related work, which resulted in a meaningful charge during the quarter. The Urban Solutions segment faced a setback as declining field productivity on a mining project in the Americas led to higher expected completion costs and a related charge. Results were further weighed down by higher corporate general and administrative expenses, mainly due to stock-based compensation linked to share price appreciation. Geopolitical uncertainty also slowed development on a major project in Pakistan and remains a risk to supply chains and client capital spending.
However, performance was supported by proceeds from the China fabrication yard sale and the monetization of its remaining stake in NuScale Power. Higher profits in Energy Solutions, driven by favorable project closeouts and improved project selectivity, with stronger margins on new awards, also supported results.
Following the results, shares of FLR declined 15.2% during trading hours on Friday.
Inside Fluor’s Q1 ResultsThe company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 14 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents by 78.8%. In the year-ago quarter, it reported an adjusted EPS of 73 cents.
Revenues were $3.66 billion, down 8% year over year and 3.6% shy of the consensus mark of $3.8 billion.
Operationally, results were weighed by a sizeable litigation-related charge and cost growth on a mining project. Still, Fluor ended the quarter with a backlog of $25.7 billion, 82% of which was reimbursable, underscoring its continued bias toward risk-mitigated contracting.
FLR’s Segment Mix Shifts Sharply in Q1Urban Solutions generated revenues of $2.44 billion, up 13% year over year, but segment profit slid to $6 million after a $37 million impact tied to a fixed-price mining project in the Americas.
Urban Solutions posted $2.1 billion of new awards in the quarter, including a metals project in the Middle East, incremental work on a pharmaceutical facility and an infrastructure expansion for a mining facility in Chile. The ending backlog for the segment was $19 billion, representing 74% of the total company backlog.
Energy Solutions’ revenues fell to $0.70 billion from $1.21 billion, reflecting lower activity on projects nearing completion, yet segment profit improved to $74 million from $47 million a year ago on favorable closeout items across three projects.
New awards totaled $213 million in the quarter, including a FEED award for the America First Refinery and a contract with X-energy for Dow’s Seadrift SMR project. The ending backlog was $4.3 billion.
Mission Solutions recorded revenues of $0.52 billion, down 12.4% from the prior-year level. The segment reported a loss of $71 million, primarily due to a $96 million court ruling related to LOGCAP activities in Afghanistan, which management said it plans to appeal.
New awards were $332 million, including a significant FEED services award for the Centrus uranium enrichment plant expansion and a $100 million task order supporting military operations in the Middle East. The ending backlog was $2.5 billion.
Fluor’s Cash Position Improves on NuScale MonetizationFluor ended the quarter with $3.19 billion of cash and cash equivalents, up from $2.43 billion at the end of 2025. Operating cash flow was $110 million, improving from a $286 million outflow a year ago, aided by working-capital reductions on several large projects and distributions from joint ventures.
The cash build was also driven by proceeds from NuScale share sales. Investing cash flow included $1.36 billion of proceeds from the sale of NuScale shares during the quarter. Fluor also returned capital aggressively, repurchasing $516 million of common stock, or 11 million shares, during the period.
FLR Narrows 2026 Targets, Keeps Cash Flow GoalFor 2026, Fluor narrowed its adjusted EBITDA outlook to a range of $525 million to $560 million (prior expectation was $525-$585 million) and guided for adjusted earnings of $2.60 to $2.80 per share. Management maintained its operating cash flow target of roughly $300 million, excluding tax payments tied to the 2025 NuScale conversion.
The company’s framework assumes a book-to-burn above one and corporate G&A expense of $175 million to $185 million, along with an effective tax rate of 26% to 28%. Segment margin expectations call for Urban Solutions at 2.5% to 3.5%, Energy Solutions at 5% to 6% and Mission Solutions at about 6%, reflecting management’s view that backlog quality and selectivity are improving even as near-term execution risks persist.
FLR’s Zacks Rank & Recent Construction ReleasesFluor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Vulcan Materials Company (VMC - Free Report) posted exceptional first-quarter 2026 results with adjusted earnings and total revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increasing year over year. The quarter’s results reflect benefits realized from the aggregates-led business and consistent focus on its strategic disciplines. Besides, efforts to incorporate top-tier innovation and technology advancements also aided the quarter’s financial performance.
Vulcan reiterated its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook of $2.4-$2.6 billion and cited a healthy backlog supported by large projects and public construction activity.
EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME - Free Report) reported impressive first-quarter 2026 results, with earnings and revenues topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increasing year over year on strong demand across its core markets.
EMCOR’s quarterly results reflect continued momentum across key end markets and customers’ confidence in the company’s ability to execute complex and mission-critical projects. Strong activity in sectors like Network and Communications, Institutional, Healthcare, and Water and Wastewater supported growth and drove higher remaining performance obligations (RPOs). EMCOR now expects revenues between $18.50 billion and $19.25 billion, and diluted earnings per share are projected in the range of $28.25 to $29.75.
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) delivered a sharp first quarter of 2026, with earnings and revenues topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increasing year over year. The quarter reflected strong market conditions, led by heavier technology-sector activity, particularly for data centers.
Comfort Systems also highlighted that recent bookings and underlying persistent demand supported a higher backlog even with increased project burn rates, an important indicator that volume remains strong across key end markets. The backlog as of March 31, 2026, totaled $12.45 billion, increasing 4.3% from $11.94 billion on Dec. 31, 2025, and jumping 80.8% from $6.89 billion reported a year ago.
Fluor Corp (NYSE:FLR) on Friday reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results.
Fluor reported quarterly earnings of 14 cents per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of 62 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.663 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $3.894 billion.
Fluor Corporation narrowed its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance range to $525–$560 million from $525–$585 million prior.
Fluor shares rose 0.5% to trade at $43.52 on Monday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Fluor following earnings announcement.
Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann maintained Fluor with a Neutral and raised the price target from $48 to $49. Citigroup analyst Andrew Kaplowitz maintained the stock with a Buy and lowered the price target from $61 to $56. Truist Securities analyst Jamie Cook reiterated the stock with a Buy and lowered the price target from $59 to $57. Considering buying FLR stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Fluor Corporation faces mounting headwinds after disappointing Q1 results, including an 8% revenue decline and weak adjusted EPS driven by legal and project cost overruns. AI data center construction and onshoring tailwinds are offset by economic slowdown risks, political uncertainty, and local pushback, complicating the near-term outlook. FLR's $1.4 billion share buyback, funded by the NuScale divestment, is viewed neutrally but signals limited reinvestment opportunities amid a challenging environment.
Warsaw, Poland--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2026) - Lumina Metals Corp. (TSX: LMCU) ("Lumina" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the formal commencement of the NI 43-101 compliant pre-feasibility study ("PFS") for its flagship Nowa Sól copper-silver project located in western Poland. The PFS will focus on optimizing the overall project development plan and refining the key technical and economic parameters for the Nowa Sól project, including mining methods, shaft sinking and underground infrastructure, metallurgical processing, tailings management, power supply, logistics, permitting integration, capital expenditures, operating costs, and overall execution planning.
Fluor is a leading engineering firm with strong prospects in the data center and energy industries. Selling its stake in NuScale Power adds much-needed cash to the company's balance sheet.
As data centers strain traditional power grids, it sets up an opportunity for nuclear-energy companies. They can provide 24/7 baseload power, and the small modular reactors (SMRs) being developed will offer greater placement flexibility and less location constraint due to their size.
The industry is still being built out, but it's that growth potential that is fueling some of the biggest winners not just in the energy sector but in the broader markets in 2026. Three companies with nuclear-energy ties quietly winning this year are Fluor (FLR +1.28%), Uranium Energy (UEC +5.08%), and Cameco (CCJ +2.12%).
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1. The nuclear energy advisor Fluor is an engineering and construction company, with three main business segments: energy solutions (helping the energy industry), mission solutions (helping governments), and urban solutions (helping cities).
Right now, the company's main driving force is energy. In April, Fluor announced that it will provide services to Maryland-based X-Energy, which is developing four SMRs. And in March, Fluor announced a limited notice-to-proceed agreement with TeraWulf for a data-center campus in Kentucky, where it would provide master planning and pre-construction services.
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Recently, Fluor's 2026 first-quarter earnings report offered a bit of a mixed bag. Total revenue of $3.6 billion marked a decline of 8%, and its energy solutions division also saw a year-over-year sales decline. It did, however, report increased profitability in that energy solutions business, with revenue rising from $47 million to $74 million. It also has a huge orders backlog of $25.7 billion.
Looking ahead, Fluor has growing opportunities in the nuclear energy sector through SMRs and long-term government contracts. Investors will have to brace for volatility, as the stock has more price swings than the broader markets. But it's quietly performing well in 2026. The shares are up more than 18% this year (as of May 26).
2. Mining and exploring Shifting gears from construction and engineering, let's look at Uranium Energy, which explores for and mines the fuel needed by nuclear reactors. It also launched a subsidiary, U.S. Uranium Refining & Conversion, to review the potential to develop a uranium refining and conversion facility. It's a small world: Uranium Energy is working on a subsidiary with Fluor.
Revenue is still on the smaller side, coming in at $66.8 million in its fiscal 2025, and $20.2 million in its recent fiscal 2026 second quarter (for the period ended Jan.31).
Today's Change
(
5.08
%) $
0.54
Current Price
$
11.17
One of the risks and rewards of this company is its unhedged strategy, which doesn't lock it into pre-priced contracts. That's a benefit if prices are high, but it removes a safety net of already having an agreement in hand if uranium prices drop. This company may be a better fit for investors who have experience dealing with commodity price swings and cyclicality.
Still, the stock has performed well, more than doubling during the past year. The returns have been a little more muted this year, with a gain of about 16%, but as the nuclear sector advances, Uranium Energy and its shareholders could benefit from increased demand, which can lead to higher uranium prices.
3. More mining Rounding out our three stocks is Cameco, one of the world's largest uranium fuel providers. It has exploration, mining, refining, conversion, and fabrication businesses, with a focus on long-term contracts. Part of its assets also includes a 49% stake in Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear reactor equipment manufacturer. It has more than 90 facilities and three fuel fabrication facilities across 21 countries.
Today's Change
(
2.12
%) $
2.10
Current Price
$
101.07
For the financials, it's off to a strong start this year, reporting revenue of $845 million in Canadian dollars in its 2026 first-quarter earnings report, an increase of 7%. It also reported net earnings attributable to equity holders of CA$131 million, an increase of 87%.
Cameco is a well-established company with a $47 billion market value, so its size and operating history may be a good fit for more risk-averse individuals still seeking nuclear-related investments. The stock is up over 18% on the year, and Cameco will be a key benefactor of a growing nuclear energy market.
[url="]Fluor Corporation[/url] (NYSE: FLR) announced today that its JGC Fluor BC LNG II joint venture with JGC Corporation (JFJV2) has received limited notice
On June 02, 2026, Fluor Corp FLR shares rose 6.0%, bringing the current price to $49.34. This price is situated within a 52-week range of $37.62 to $57.50, reflecting a year-to-date gain of 24.5% and a 1-year increase of 19.9%.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $49.34 is 13.2% overvalued compared to the GF Value™ of $43.60.GF Score™ of 73/100 indicates an above-average rating, suggesting potential for long-term returns.Most notable signal: Insider activity shows that insiders sold $1.1M in the last 3 months with no buying. Is FLR Overvalued or Undervalued? The current price of Fluor Corp FLR at $49.34 is above the GF Value™ estimate of $43.60, indicating that the stock is overvalued by approximately 13.2%. This overvaluation suggests a lack of margin of safety for new investors contemplating an entry into the stock. The GF Valuation label categorizes FLR as "Modestly Overvalued," which reflects caution regarding potential downside risk. A stock being overvalued may lead to price corrections if market conditions shift or if company performance does not meet growth expectations.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. Investors should consider this valuation alongside other factors to make informed decisions regarding their exposure to FLR.
How Does FLR's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 23.8x 22.4x Forward P/E 18.9x N/A Fluor's current P/E ratio of 23.8x is 6% above its 5-year median P/E of 22.4x, suggesting that the stock is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation. This analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of being overvalued, reinforcing the notion that FLR may not present an attractive entry point at its current price level.
What Does FLR's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 73 Financial Strength 6/10 Profitability 5/10 Growth 4/10 Valuation 7/10 Momentum 10/10 Fluor Corp’s GF Score™ of 73/100 indicates that the stock is positioned above average in terms of potential long-term returns. The strongest area is its Momentum rank at 10/10, reflecting recent positive price action and investor interest. On the other hand, the Growth rank of 4/10 indicates that the company may face challenges in delivering consistent earnings growth, which could weigh on future performance.
What Are Insiders Doing with FLR Stock? In recent months, insider activity surrounding Fluor Corp has shown a trend of selling, with insiders divesting $1.1 million worth of shares. This lack of buying activity from insiders may signal caution about the stock's current valuation or future performance. Typically, when insiders sell shares without subsequent buying, it raises questions about their confidence in the company's prospects.
Given this activity, potential investors may want to consider the implications of insider sentiment before making investment decisions regarding FLR.
What This Means for Investors Fluor Corp FLR is currently overvalued according to the GF Value™ estimate, which indicates a potential risk for investors looking to enter the stock at this time. The company's valuation metrics and insider activity further support a cautious approach as investors evaluate the stock's alignment with their investment strategy.
For the complete analysis, visit the Fluor Corp FLR stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions What is FLR's GF Score™?
FLR's GF Score™ is 73/100, indicating an above-average rating that suggests potential for long-term returns based on the company's financial and operational performance.
Is FLR overvalued or undervalued?
FLR is currently overvalued, given that its price of $49.34 exceeds the GF Value™ estimate of $43.60 by 13.2%.
What is FLR's P/E ratio?
FLR's P/E ratio is 23.8x, which is above its 5-year median P/E of 22.4x, indicating that the stock is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
On June 08, 2026, Fluor Corp FLR shares rose 4.1% to a current price of $49.52. The stock has experienced a 52-week range between $37.62 and $57.50, indicating recent positive momentum.
GF Value™ verdict: The current price is $49.52, which is 13.2% above the GF Value™ of $43.73, indicating the stock is overvalued.GF Score™ of 73/100 suggests that Fluor Corp is above average in terms of overall quality and potential return.Insider activity shows that insiders sold $0.7M in the last 3 months, with no buying reported. Is FLR Overvalued or Undervalued? Fluor Corp FLR is currently trading at $49.52, which is above the GF Value™ estimate of $43.73. This results in a 13.2% overvaluation, which suggests a lack of margin of safety for potential investors. The GF Valuation label categorizes the stock as "Modestly Overvalued," indicating that it trades at a premium compared to its intrinsic value. Investors considering FLR must weigh the current high price against the potential risks of holding an overvalued asset.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. Given that the stock is overvalued, there is a risk that the price could decline if market conditions change or if the company's performance does not meet expectations.
How Does FLR's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 23.9x 22.8x Forward P/E 19.0x N/A The current P/E (TTM) ratio of 23.9x is approximately 5% higher than its 5-year median P/E of 22.8x. This indicates that Fluor Corp is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation metrics. The P/E analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict of being overvalued, suggesting that investors may be paying too much relative to the company's historical earnings performance.
What Does FLR's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 73 Financial Strength 6/10 Profitability 5/10 Growth 4/10 Valuation 7/10 Momentum 8/10 The GF Score™ of 73/100 indicates that Fluor Corp is positioned above average in terms of quality and potential returns. The strongest areas are its Valuation (7/10) and Momentum (8/10) ranks, reflecting a modestly favorable outlook for price movements. However, the Growth score of 4/10 is the weakest aspect, suggesting potential challenges in expanding earnings or revenue in the future.
What Are Insiders Doing with FLR Stock? In the last three months, insiders at Fluor Corp have sold $0.7M worth of shares, with no reported buying activity. This pattern of insider selling may suggest a lack of confidence among company executives about the stock's future price appreciation. While insider selling does not solely indicate negative sentiment, it can be a signal for potential investors to exercise caution.
What This Means for Investors Based on the GF Value™ assessment, Fluor Corp FLR is currently overvalued. Investors may want to consider the significant premium above its intrinsic value and weigh the associated risks before making investment decisions.
For the complete analysis, visit the Fluor Corp FLR stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions What is FLR's GF Score™?
FLR's GF Score™ is 73/100, indicating that it ranks above average in terms of quality and potential long-term returns.
Is FLR overvalued or undervalued?
FLR is considered overvalued, as its current price of $49.52 is 13.2% above the GF Value™ of $43.73.
What is FLR's P/E ratio?
FLR's P/E (TTM) ratio is 23.9x, which is 5% above its 5-year median P/E of 22.8x, indicating that the stock is trading at a premium to its historical valuations.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
