Based on the aggregated intelligence of 165,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, silicon-wafer-maker MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at MEMC's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

MEMC facts

Headquarters (Founded)

St. Peters, Mo. (1984)

Market Cap

$2.6 billion

Industry

Semiconductor equipment

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$1.4 billion

Management

CEO Ahmad Chatila (since 2009)

CFO Timothy Oliver (since 2009)

Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years)

18.9%

Cash/Debt

$651 million / $443.9 million

Competitors

First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR)

ReneSola (NYSE: SOL)

Source: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 95% of the 1,025 members who have rated MEMC believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include EvilPhD and All-Star kirkydu, who is ranked in the top 1% of our community.

A few months ago, EvilPhD assured Fools that "just because [MEMC] had some overhead issues does not negate the recent gains and the fact that this company is a major player in the worldwide voltaic solar cell industry that is ripe for the pickings." Our CAPS member concludes: "Solar cells have finally reached a point where they are a viable energy solution. I can only see positive gains from here on out."

Even Wall Street seems to be reaching the same bullish conclusion. As my fellow Fool Rich Smith mentioned earlier this week, All-Star analyst Kaufman Bros. just upgraded MEMC on a forecast of "higher volume and better pricing in both the semiconductor and solar material segments," and an upbeat update that "demand for solar is now tracking to grow 60%+ globally."

Fools won't have to wait very long to see how that call plays out, as MEMC reports earnings next week. But with the shares lagging rivals First Solar and ReneSola by a whopping 30% and 40%, respectively, over the past three months, it shouldn't take a whole lot to impress Mr. Market.

CAPS member kirkydu chimes in:

MEMC will do very well in an economic recovery and has the kicker that if the new energy policy includes another push to solar, [MEMC] could explode back to the $50 plus range. Well run company, very cyclical, strong position. Must be traded cyclically. Only a guesser would bother trading it daily as the movements are less rational than most on a day to day basis due to various solar energy and tech news of the day.

What do you think about MEMC, or any other stock for that matter? If you want to retire rich, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future, and on Motley Fool CAPS, thousands of investors are working every day to find them. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!