The CAPS Screen: 5 Stocks on a Roll

Finding the next big stock is both satisfying and profitable. Like Nirvana for those early on the grunge scene, or Modest Mouse in my case, it's even more rewarding if you can discover greatness before everyone else.

With that in mind, I used our new CAPS screening tool to find stocks with growing bullish sentiment. Following a screen similar to this one last year would have turned up Excel Maritime (NYSE: EXM), netting you a 168% gain. Specifically, I looked for stocks whose CAPS ratings have risen in the last two months to four or five stars (out of five) from one, two, or three stars.

They also have:

• Market caps greater than $100 million.
• At least 200 active CAPS picks                                                                                             

Data from Motley Fool CAPS and Yahoo! Finance as of Oct. 3.

Of course, screens are merely a first step in the stock selection process. After all, there's no long-term use in picking the next Chumbawamba. So come and join our 115,000-person-strong (and growing) Motley Fool CAPS community in finding the best up-and-comers.

On Oct. 7, 2008, Fool Co-Founder David Gardner and his Motley Fool Pro team will invest $1 million in a portfolio designed to help you make money in any market. In the coming weeks, the team, relying heavily on proprietary CAPS "community intelligence" data, will establish long and short positions in a broad range of securities, including common stocks, publicly traded put and call options, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). To learn more about Motley Fool Pro and to receive a private invitation to join, simply enter your email address in the box below.