The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Aug. 15, edition that National Bank Financial analyst Maxim Sytchev is keeping his "outperform" recommendation for Stantec intact. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. Sytchev tweaked his share target ahead by $2 to $164. Analysts on average target the shares at $162.18. Mr. Sytchev says in a note: "We are buyers of [Thursday's] downdraft (bizarrely, shares gapped down 8 per cent at the open) as management on the call was specific that it is seeing an acceleration of growth in the U.S. in July. Yes, the shares are up 29 per cent year-to-date (Stantec was our top idea in consulting this year), but when layering on still predictable growth, the fear of DOGE receding, water market remaining robust in the U.S./U.K., Germany contributing double-digit growth (off a low base, albeit down 2 per cent plus), data centre momentum (2 to 3 per cent of the top line), better than expected margins and an active M&A backdrop leads up to believe that investors should remain committed to Stantec; we certainly are." The Globe reported on July 31 that Canaccord Genuity analyst Yuri Lynk continued to rate Stantec "buy." Stantec shares could then be had for $151.46.