Investors head into the last stretch of July with the Federal Reserve still on hold and Q2 earnings hitting a peak week. Chair Kevin Warsh's Federal Open Market Committee left the fed funds range at 3.50%-3.75% at its June 17 meeting and said inflation risks had "eased substantially," and CME Group's FedWatch tool now shows roughly an 80% probability of zero cuts for the remainder of 2026. Against that steady-rates backdrop, Wall Street analysts used Monday, July 27 to press upgrades across a mix of cyclical, industrial and long-duration growth names. Below are five Strong Buy candidates worth watching on Tuesday, July 28, drawn from Monday's freshest research calls across autos, EVs, uranium, space and hazardous-waste services.
General Motors (GM) — Detroit Gets a Cyclical Vote of Confidence
General Motors is the largest U.S. automaker by domestic production, with a broad portfolio spanning full-size trucks, SUVs and its Ultium-based electric vehicles. On July 27, Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy and raised his price target to $99 from $90, telling clients he sees "$10+ billion of real free cash flow in 2027" as tariff headwinds fade and pricing normalizes. That upgrade adds to a bullish tape: Morgan Stanley's Andrew Percoco reiterated Overweight at $101 on July 22, while Wells Fargo's Colin Langan kept an Underweight rating at $61.
Shares closed at $85.86 on July 27, up 3.90% on the session, with a market cap of $77.66 billion and a trailing P/E of 7.44. The 52-week range is $51.69 to $87.62, putting GM near cycle highs. The consensus rating is Strong Buy, with 14 of 15 tracked analysts bullish, an average price target of $102.47, a median of $100, a high of $132 and a low of $61.
Risks: Tariff outcomes on Mexico- and Canada-built vehicles remain unresolved, EV losses continue to weigh on segment margins, U.S. auto credit is tightening, and Wells Fargo's Langan continues to see downside risk to earnings.
Rivian Automotive (RIVN) — Piper Sandler Warms to the Balance Sheet
Rivian designs and manufactures electric SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial delivery vans, with its smaller, more affordable R2 platform slated for launch in 2026. On July 27, Piper Sandler's Alexander Potter upgraded Rivian from Neutral to Overweight and lifted his price target to $20 from $18, describing the balance sheet as "de-risked" following the Volkswagen joint venture and pointing to the R2 launch as a potential inflection. Wedbush's Daniel Ives has been carrying an Outperform rating at $25 since December 19, 2025, while Morgan Stanley's Percoco maintains Underweight at $13.
Shares closed at $16.59 on July 27, up 4.70% on the day, with a market cap of $20.13 billion. The company is unprofitable, so a trailing P/E is not meaningful. The 52-week range is $11.57 to $22.69. The consensus rating is Buy, with 10 of 16 analysts bullish, an average target of $20.19, a median of $20, a high of $25 and a low of $13.
Risks: Rivian is still burning cash, EV demand remains uneven across price points, the R2 ramp is a major execution test, and Morgan Stanley's Percoco views the stock as fundamentally overvalued at current levels.
Cameco (CCJ) — UBS Buys the Uranium Pullback
Cameco is one of the world's largest publicly traded uranium producers and holds a 49% stake in Westinghouse Electric alongside Brookfield Renewable. On July 27, UBS upgraded Cameco from Neutral to Buy, telling investors to use a roughly 18% one-month pullback as an entry point tied to sustained utility contracting and AI-driven power demand for nuclear. RBC Capital's Andrew D. Wong reiterated Outperform at $175 on June 29, and B of A Securities' Lawson Winder maintained Buy at $140 on July 9, while Barclays' Richard Garchitorena stayed Equal-Weight at $104 on July 16.
Shares closed at $88.67 on July 27, up 0.92%, with a market cap of $38.62 billion and a trailing P/E of 70.37 on EPS of $1.26. The 52-week range is $68.96 to $135.24, placing Cameco well below its highs. The consensus rating is Strong Buy, with 4 of 5 tracked analysts bullish, an average target of $139.84, a median of $140, a high of $175 and a low of $104.
Risks: Uranium spot prices are volatile, utility contracting can be lumpy quarter to quarter, Kazakh supply competition remains a wildcard, and Barclays' Garchitorena continues to see limited upside at his $104 target.
Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) — KGI Steps In on the Space Story
Rocket Lab is a launch-services and space-systems company operating the small-lift Electron rocket, developing the medium-lift Neutron and building satellites and spacecraft components for defense and commercial customers. On July 27, KGI Securities analyst Rob Chang initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $107 price target. That call sits alongside deep sell-side support: Citizens' Trevor Walsh raised his target to $130 on June 30, Roth Capital's Suji Desilva moved to $130 the same day, and B of A Securities' Ronald Epstein went to $115.
Shares closed at $65.39 on July 27, up 2.31%, with a market cap of $37.85 billion. Rocket Lab is unprofitable, so a trailing P/E is not meaningful. The 52-week range is $37.57 to $151. The consensus rating is Strong Buy, with 10 of 11 analysts bullish, an average target of $111.82, a median of $120, a high of $130 and a low of $69.
Risks: Neutron's maiden flight is a binary catalyst, launch cadence and manifest slippage can pressure margins, defense budget timing is uncertain into fiscal 2027, and Goldman Sachs' Anthony Valentini remains Neutral at $69, well below the average target.
Clean Harbors (CLH) — BofA Kicks Off Coverage With a Buy
Clean Harbors is North America's largest provider of hazardous-waste disposal, industrial cleaning and used-oil re-refining services, with a network of incinerators and landfills that would be nearly impossible to replicate today. On July 27, B of A Securities initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $360 price target, calling the company a "compounding cash" story tied to PFAS remediation and tightening EPA regulation. That view aligns with Truist Securities' Tobey Sommer at $350 on July 22 and Citigroup's Bryan Burgmeier at $349 on July 10, while Barclays' William Grippin stays Equal-Weight at $305.
Shares closed at $301.05 on July 27, down 0.89%, with a market cap of $15.91 billion and a trailing P/E of 40.79 on EPS of $7.38. The 52-week range is $201.34 to $316.98. The consensus rating is Buy, with 7 of 11 analysts bullish, an average target of $327.82, a median of $325, a high of $350 and a low of $305.
Risks: Industrial-services demand is tied to a slowing U.S. manufacturing cycle, PFAS regulatory timing could push out expected revenue, valuation is elevated near cycle highs, and Barclays' Grippin views current levels as roughly fairly valued.
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