Here’s why Sterling Infrastructure (STRL) is Among the 10 Best Quality Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 5 Years

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) is one of the 10 Best Quality Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 5 Years.

On May 6, 2026, KeyBanc raised its price target on Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) to $889 from $572 and maintained an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm said the company delivered very strong Q1 results alongside robust bookings that provide improved visibility into activity levels for the remainder of the year. KeyBanc added that margins continued to improve sequentially, helped by better weather conditions and execution on large projects. While E-Infra remains a major focus, the firm also pointed to improving Transportation operations and a stronger balance sheet. Free cash flow remained strong, and Sterling ended the quarter in a net cash position, which KeyBanc said could support additional M&A opportunities in E-Infra or MEP expansion into new geographies.

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On May 4, 2026, Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) reported Q1 EPS of $3.59, well above the $2.19 consensus estimate, while revenue rose to $825.7M compared to expectations of $591.97M. Backlog at March 31 totaled $3.80B, up 78% year over year. The company said CEC contributed $592.0M to backlog growth, while backlog excluding CEC increased 51%.

CEO Joe Cutillo said Sterling delivered an “exceptional start” to 2026, with adjusted net income increasing 122% and adjusted EBITDA margins remaining above 20%. He added that revenue grew 92%, including more than 55% organic growth, while operating cash flow reached $166M. Cutillo also said bid and award activity remained strong early in 2026, including the award of the initial phase of site development work for a large multi-year semiconductor fabrication campus. CEC also secured several large projects that contributed to a $1.2B increase in combined backlog during the quarter.

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) raised its FY26 adjusted EPS outlook to $18.40-$19.05 from consensus estimates of $13.59. The company also expects FY26 revenue of $3.70B-$3.80B versus consensus estimates of $3.1B and adjusted EBITDA of $843M-$873M.

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NASDAQ:STRL) provides e-infrastructure, transportation, and building solutions across the United States.

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