5 Stocks Shaking 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 listed five stocks that made some of the biggest upward moves over the past month. We'll pair them 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.

30-day % change from Feb. 24 to March 29.

As the markets whipsaw to changes in consumer sentiment, we'll see gains that exceptionally outpace the movers and shakers of prior weeks. Before we get shaken out again, let's see why the CAPS community thinks some of these companies might continue to outperform the market.

A mighty temblor
Surfing-inspired retailer Quiksilver wasn't alone in posting better-than-expected results this quarter. Both Pacific Sunwear (Nasdaq: PSUN) and Zumiez (Nasdaq: ZUMZ) beat the Street as well. But only Quiksilver's stock rode the wave to higher gains, powered by its prospects for a better year.

PacSun says it expects same-store sales to fall as much as 18% this quarter, while Zumiez expects comps to rise less than 10%. Quiksilver, on the other hand, said it would return to profit this quarter, even though it expects revenue to fall.

CAPS member SenseA isn't impressed by the forecasts, considering the heavy debt load that still burdens Quiksilver:

Love the brand. However an earnings report that pretty much reported that they lost LESS MONEY than quarter year ago doesn't warrant this thing shooting up 50% in value in just a week or two. The big picture is that this company is still losing money and in large debt.

Still feeling the aftershocks
On the surface, Questcor Pharmaceuticals looks like a one-hit wonder with its multiple sclerosis drug Acthar. In truth, however, it's turning that lone drug into multiple revenue streams, reducing the risks normally associated with one-trick-ponyhood.

In addition to treating MS, Acthar is used off-label by doctors to treat infantile spasms (IS); Questcor has a pending application with the FDA to get that use approved as an on-label therapy. Danish rival H. Lundbeck entered the market with its treatment Sabril, but Questcor doesn't seem particularly concerned. It still saw new paid Acthar commercial prescriptions for IS rise 56% sequentially, despite the competition. A third avenue of potential growth may lie in the treatment of a dangerous kidney condition called nephrotic syndrome. Acthar has long had approval for use in combating the disease, but only recently has Questcor begun pursuing sales growth again.

Given these three uses for the same drug, the big run-up in Questcor's stock isn't so surprising. Whether the company can hold onto the reins and transform itself, as others like ViroPharma (Nasdaq: VPHM) have done, remains to be seen though. Surprises from the FDA have tripped up more than one promising drug developer.

CAPS member ustaknow believes that in addition to the foregoing, Questcor's status as an underfollowed stock among analysts could provide another catalyst:

[Questcor] is a stock that will continue up and it gets sweeter as it is still undiscovered and only needs more analyst coverage to recognize its true potential. It is ironic that the Motley Fool and the Street discovered [Questcor] before the rest of the "analyst " world did.

Nerves of steel
Digital printing outfit Presstek is also flying under most analysts' radar, as it tries to crack the market held by heavyweights like Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) and others. The good news started at the end of last year, when the International Trade Commission sided with Presstek in a patent-infringement imbroglio. Next, it settled a case with the SEC that had erupted years ago under its former management team. Most recently, the company's latest quarterly report showed a sequential jump in revenue, lower expenses, and a healthy reduction in its debt burden.

Slightly more than 50 CAPS members have rated the digital printer, and only two Wall Street analysts follow its progress. With 85% of those rating Presstek expecting it to beat the broader averages (both analysts are bullish, too), you can print up your own thoughts on the Presstek CAPS page.

Shake, rattle, and roll
With these stocks shaking the market this past month it pays to start your own research on them 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.