Friday's 5 Large-Cap Leaders

When large caps make a run for it, it's in your interest to follow.

Think of Inside Value pick Microsoft. After years of poor performance, Mr. Softy and his $300-billion-plus market cap began making a move this fall, enriching investors who bought and stayed in.

Hence this column. For as much money as there is to be made in fast movers like iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT) and Silicon Image (NASDAQ:SIMG), the turtle often beats the hare. Here's a look at Friday's finest terrapins, courtesy of The Wall Street Journal:

Shares of our top gainer, Stock Advisor pick Paccar, were up for reasons not yet reported. So be it. We Fools prefer buy-to-hold stock stories anyway. Are any of our large-cap leaders worth owning over the next three to five years?

To go by the ratings of our Motley Fool CAPS community, all but financier Northern Trust could be. Of the 45 professional and amateur investors who've rated that stock, eight call for it to underperform the market. But, of those eight, six are All-Stars -- stock pickers whose prowess places them in the top 20% of the more than 73,000 CAPS participants. Ten All-Stars are long on Northern Trust.

I'd love to tell you why 38% of the best investors in CAPS who rated it think that shorting Northern Trust is a good idea. Trouble is, none of them have entered a pitch. Only investor oldmanegan has gone on the record with a bearish thesis. Quoting:

Lackluster movement, very conservative, and not capturing small investors' attention. Low dividend doesn't make up for the slow movement. Expect them to be involved in a merger within the next 12 months, however.

Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think by signing up for CAPS today. It's 100% free to participate.

See you back here tomorrow for more of the best of the biggest.

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• Check out Friday's stock stars.
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