Drink In These Top Stocks

Whether it's the corporate lunchroom, your cubicle, or the local watering hole after work, there are regular places we gather to discuss news, sports, or -- if you're like us -- stocks. Here at Motley Fool CAPS, we gather around the virtual water cooler daily to rate stocks and delve into their merits as investments.

Our 160,000-strong CAPS community -- where members give the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to some 5,400 stocks -- seeks businesses it thinks will outperform the market. Below we'll take a look at some of the most popular and talked-about stocks in the CAPS universe, and examine whether you think they'll continue their winning ways.

Of course, just because a lot of investors find these stocks interesting doesn't mean they're automatic additions to your portfolio. You still need to do more research to find out if they're interesting because they're set to take off, or because their stocks are ready for a trip to the cellar.

A tall drink of water
Mexican cement giant CEMEX tiptoed around the brink of default last year, burdened by a heavy debt load brought on by the ill-timed purchase of Australian rival Rinker. Its stock has been weighed down by the pair of cement shoes of greater losses amid falling sales.

Before we consign the cement mixer to Davy Jones's locker, though, lets look at the potential it has to still recover. Analysts say the Mexican housing market is solid, the company is shedding non-strategic assets and should get better prices for them now that markets have generally stabilized, and it is seeking entrance into emerging markets like India. There's also the possibility that the U.S. housing market might be flexing some muscle, too, though it's more likely that it's just a result of government-induced buying.

Highly rated CAPS All-Star mrindependent recognizes the wobbly legs upon which it stands, but suggests a global economic recovery will prop up this giant:

Despite a shaky balance sheet, I doubt that this goliath will ever become insolvent. World economic trends appear to be on the uptrend and this worldwide cement producer is poised to benefit.

Head over to CEMEX CAPS page and let us know what you think.

A chance of rain
The oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico probably won't be enough of a catalyst to get solar off the dime again. The industry is sitting under a cloud, with shares of Suntech Power, Trina Solar (Nasdaq: TSL), and SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWRA) all declining this year on fears of inventory oversupply; subsidies cuts in Germany, Italy, and Spain; and thinning profit potential.

Yet CAPS member JestYourFool says it will be China, as in everything else, that pulls the industry out:

China is the next dominant country-unfortunately! With a growing need for energy, China will need to use solar and other "free" power sources and become less dependent on fossil fuels.

With the Chinese government giving Suntech and Trina access to almost $12 billion in low-interest loans through the China Development Bank, this could be the real catalyst to get the industry shining again.

Iron man competition
Considering the opening weekend box office success of the Iron Man 2 movie, you can be sure Disney is quite pleased that it bought Marvel last year. Had someone like DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA) picked up the comic book franchise, we might have a very different investment scenario here.

There are plenty more characters where Iron Man came from, so you're likely to find Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) smiling, too, as it renewed and extended its toy marketing collaboration with Marvel just before the House of Mouse bought it out.

As if Disney's own cast of characters didn't run deep enough, this addition will likely spawn a whole new series of rides and entertainment opportunities at its theme parks. When you consider the merchandising muscle behind the company, you'll understand why CAPS member jjonesspkez is looking for the stock to soar to Never Land:

Disney is one those companies that will continue to capitalize on young kids, and teens. There merchandising is unbelievable. I was amazed to see their P/E at right around 20. I would have guess it would have been more.

Gather 'round
With so many good opinions about today's top companies, why not grab a pointy paper cup from the dispenser and join us at the Motley Fool CAPS water cooler? Your input can help guide other investors to stocks with bright prospects for growth. Read a company's financial reports, scrutinize key data and charts, and examine the comments your fellow investors have made, all from a stock's CAPS page.

Sign up today for the completely free service, and let us hear what you have to say about the great and almost-great companies that interest you.