10 Stocks to Shake the Market

Some stocks are one-hit wonders, making a big splash when they first appear, then quickly fizzling into obscurity or oblivion. But for other stocks, that initial big move is only a preview for even bigger and better gains to come.

Today, we've compiled 10 stocks that made some of the biggest upward moves over the past month. We'll then pair that list with the ratings issued by our Motley Fool CAPS community. The higher each stock's rating, the greater CAPS members' faith in that company's ability to keep on beating the market.

With half of these stocks carrying average or better ratings, let's see why the CAPS community thinks any of them might outperform the market.

A mighty temblor
Following the Treasury Department's stress test of the country's 19 largest banks, other financial institutions are coming under closer scrutiny to determine whether they, too, need to offset rising loan losses by raising more capital. Considering that 10 of the biggest banks, including Citigroup (NYSE:C), need to raise as much as $75 billion, eyes have turned toward regional players like Huntington Bancshares, which recently completed an equity offering that raised $120 million. Yet Huntington's ability to tap the equity markets may be a hopeful sign that a thaw is under way in the public financing markets.

Thus far, investors haven't been convinced. Last month, for example, CAPS member tikiskis was wondering whether Huntington had the wherewithal to keep going:

Although there is good insider ownership and insiders have bought shares as recently as March, [Huntington Bancshares] does not have a lot of cash on hand-about a million if I'm reading things right.They probably have the grit to survive as an institution, but not necessarily as a PUBLIC institution.

Also feeling the rumblings of a shaky financial situation: shallow-water driller Hercules Offshore. Although it was able to beat Wall Street's profit expectations, it had to cold-stack more rigs to save money, meaning they won't be crewed or actively marketed. It's also been trying to sell retired rigs, but the market isn't supporting that move right now, leading analysts to express concern over Hercules' outlook and debt levels.

Reviewing Hercules' prospects, CAPS member TheRealDaiLo seeks clarity on a short-term catalyst:

Oil has been the energy of choice for automobiles. With this huge decline in oil it seems that it is the best time to buy. The world cannot change their choice of energy, at least not in the short term. This is a short term play depending on how fast oil prices rise. Hero seems to have too much debt for me to take seriously. China will be the biggest factor in my decision on whether this stocks moves up.

Shake, rattle, and roll
It pays to start your own research on these market-shaking stocks at Motley Fool CAPS. 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.