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IESC vs STRL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? IES Holdings, Inc. (IESC) vs. Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both IESC and STRL operate in the engineering and construction sector with significant exposure to data center and infrastructure projects tied to artificial intelligence (AI) buildouts.
- IESC reported strong fiscal third-quarter results, including a substantial one-day stock gain following earnings, reflecting robust demand in its communications and commercial segments.
- STRL maintains a larger market capitalization and higher backlog, positioning it for continued revenue expansion ahead of its upcoming second-quarter earnings release.
- Recent market activity shows IESC with elevated volatility and momentum compared to STRL, which experienced a notable pullback over the past month amid broader sector fluctuations.
- Valuation metrics differ, with IESC trading at a lower trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio than STRL, while both demonstrate strong year-to-date (YTD) performance relative to the broader market.
- Sector sentiment remains positive for data-center-related construction, supporting relative resilience for both stocks despite short-term price swings.
Introduction
This comparison examines IESC and STRL, two companies in the engineering and construction industry that benefit from infrastructure spending and data center development. Institutional investors, active traders, and growth-oriented portfolios may find the analysis relevant when evaluating relative positioning within the industrials sector. The review focuses on recent performance trends, business drivers, and observable market factors to highlight contrasts in scale, momentum, and exposure without forward-looking speculation.
IESC Overview and Recent Performance
IES Holdings, Inc. provides electrical and mechanical construction services across communications, residential, infrastructure solutions, and commercial and industrial segments. Its operations emphasize data center infrastructure, technology systems integration, and power-related services. In recent market activity, the stock exhibited strong momentum following fiscal third-quarter results, with notable price appreciation on earnings day driven by demand in communications and commercial segments. Broader sentiment has been supported by ongoing data center projects, contributing to elevated year-to-date gains. Volatility increased around the earnings period, reflecting sensitivity to project backlogs and sector rotation.
STRL Overview and Recent Performance
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. delivers e-infrastructure, transportation, and building solutions, with segments focused on site development for data centers and manufacturing, highway and bridge projects, and residential/commercial concrete work. The company maintains a sizable backlog that includes AI-related infrastructure initiatives. Recent market activity featured a pullback over the past month amid mixed construction sector performance, followed by stabilization ahead of the second-quarter earnings report. Year-to-date returns remain substantial, supported by revenue growth expectations and analyst attention on its positioning in high-demand end markets.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
IESC and STRL share exposure to engineering and construction but differ in scale and segment emphasis. STRL operates with a larger market capitalization and more diversified backlog across transportation and building solutions, while IESC concentrates more heavily on electrical and communications infrastructure tied to data centers. Recent momentum favored IESC with sharper short-term price movement, whereas STRL showed greater stability in longer-term returns despite monthly volatility. Risk factors include project execution and input cost pressures for both, with IESC carrying lower debt relative to equity and STRL maintaining higher cash reserves. Market sentiment reflects positive tailwinds from AI infrastructure spending, creating trade-offs between IESC’s earnings-driven volatility and STRL’s broader project pipeline.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, earnings catalysts, and relative sector positioning, Tickeron’s AI systems currently assign a probabilistic preference toward IESC for short-term momentum considerations, while noting STRL’s advantages in scale and backlog visibility. The assessment remains dynamic and depends on evolving market data rather than definitive outcomes.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is IESC is a Hold and STRL is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
IESC’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileSTRL’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- IESC’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- STRL’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
IESC’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while STRL’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- IESC’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- STRL’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
IESC (@Engineering & Construction) experienced а -2.26% price change this week, while STRL (@Engineering & Construction) price change was +2.41% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Engineering & Construction industry was +0.75%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.42%, and the average quarterly price growth was -4.94%.
Reported Earning Dates
IESC is expected to report earnings on Dec 09, 2026.
STRL is expected to report earnings on Nov 09, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Engineering & Construction (+0.75% weekly)Engineering & Construction includes companies that engage in non-residential construction and contract services, including ventilation, heating and air conditioning (HVAC) services. The level/value of construction & engineering activity is one of the potentially relevant indicators of the health of businesses, and hence of the overall economy. Some of the large-cap U.S. companies in this industry include Jacobs Engineering Group Inc,, AECOM and Quanta Services, Inc.
| IESC | STRL | IESC / STRL | |
| Capitalization | 15.3B | 16.8B | 91% |
| EBITDA | 639M | 590M | 108% |
| Gain YTD | 96.990 | 79.261 | 122% |
| P/E Ratio | 34.04 | 39.55 | 86% |
| Revenue | 3.99B | 2.89B | 138% |
| Total Cash | 388M | 512M | 76% |
| Total Debt | 76.9M | 342M | 22% |
IESC | STRL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 85 | 11 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 80 Overvalued | 83 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 47 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 23 | 29 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 36 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 27 | 32 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
IESC's Valuation (80) in the Engineering And Construction industry is in the same range as STRL (83). This means that IESC’s stock grew similarly to STRL’s over the last 12 months.
IESC's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Engineering And Construction industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STRL (47). This means that IESC’s stock grew somewhat faster than STRL’s over the last 12 months.
IESC's SMR Rating (23) in the Engineering And Construction industry is in the same range as STRL (29). This means that IESC’s stock grew similarly to STRL’s over the last 12 months.
IESC's Price Growth Rating (36) in the Engineering And Construction industry is in the same range as STRL (61). This means that IESC’s stock grew similarly to STRL’s over the last 12 months.
IESC's P/E Growth Rating (27) in the Engineering And Construction industry is in the same range as STRL (32). This means that IESC’s stock grew similarly to STRL’s over the last 12 months.
| IESC | STRL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 89% | 2 days ago 87% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 80% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 89% | 2 days ago 81% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 89% | 2 days ago 88% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 81% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 86% | 2 days ago 75% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 86% | 2 days ago 82% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 67% | 9 days ago 69% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 79% | 2 days ago 90% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 69% |
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IESC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, IESC has been closely correlated with FIX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if IESC jumps, then FIX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To IESC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IESC | 100% | -1.75% | ||
| FIX - IESC | 74% Closely correlated | +3.01% | ||
| MTZ - IESC | 65% Loosely correlated | +3.10% | ||
| STRL - IESC | 65% Loosely correlated | +3.04% | ||
| MYRG - IESC | 62% Loosely correlated | +0.83% | ||
| ECG - IESC | 62% Loosely correlated | +4.10% | ||
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STRL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, STRL has been closely correlated with FIX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 73% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if STRL jumps, then FIX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To STRL | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRL | 100% | +3.04% | ||
| FIX - STRL | 73% Closely correlated | +3.01% | ||
| PWR - STRL | 68% Closely correlated | +1.11% | ||
| ECG - STRL | 66% Closely correlated | +4.10% | ||
| EME - STRL | 66% Loosely correlated | +2.02% | ||
| IESC - STRL | 65% Loosely correlated | -1.75% | ||
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