Apple kept its hold on top spot, as it did in
January. With a $0.5+ Trillion market cap it feels like the stock is carrying the entire market rally on its back. But what of the 'also rans'? This month's list is one of the most eclectic which makes a change from the normally commodity-heavy components.
The
Active Stock Screen used the following parameters:
• % Chg EPS; Q to last yr Q of 25% or more
• % Chg EPS; YTD to last YTD of 25% or more
• % Chg Revenue; YTD to last YTD of 25% or more
• Return on Average Equity of 17% or more
• 5-yr Revenue Growth Rate of 15% or more
• Market Cap of at least $50M
• Net Profit Margin of 18% or More
• Current price above $12
• Average 10-day volume above 250,000 shares
It's hard to think Apple (
AAPL) was toiling around $363 in late November, stuck as it was in a trading range. At $585 a ticket it's somewhat rich to be buying; 20% above its 50-day MA and 46% above its 200-day MA it would need either to come back to one of these moving averages, or 'wait' for the moving average to catch up with price (by moving sideways for a time). The new iPad is out, so it's stuck in a bit of a news lull and Q2 earnings not due until the end of April. Given the blowout Q1 it's unlikely to repeat the performance in Q2; this might be the 'disappointment' the stock needs to skim the froth off the price.
In second spot (but up two spots from January), with just a tenth of Apple's Market Cap, is Baidu (
BIDU). The stock is caught in a broad trading range, but is applying pressure to supply at $140 resistance. In the next couple of weeks it should have enough to see $140 broken and start a move to $155. The company releases earnings on April 26th as is projecting a soft Q1 after very strong quarterly earnings growth in 2011. If there is any lingering goodwill from Q4 it could deliver a positive surprise and setup a challenge of $165.