Welcome back to another Foolish review of the hottest stocks as ranked by Motley Fool CAPS. We're looking at the three best-performing industries over the past 30 days and your favorite long and short candidates in each.
How much difference can a week make? Not much, apparently. Travel services firms such as priceline.com
This week's third-place finisher is an old favorite. Solar power providers, such as SunPower
According to you, our Foolish readers, the best stocks in these industries to own now -- i.e., those with four or five of the maximum five stars in CAPS -- are:
Company |
CAPS Rating |
No. of CAPS Ratings |
Percent Bulls |
30-Day Price Change |
Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amtech Systems |
***** |
193 |
99.0% |
13.1% |
Solar power |
Neogen |
***** |
209 |
98.1% |
(0.5%) |
Diagnostic substances |
IDEXX Laboratories |
***** |
154 |
98.0% |
(0.1%) |
Diagnostic substances |
Meridian Bioscience |
***** |
413 |
97.8% |
(10.6%) |
Diagnostic substances |
FPL Group |
***** |
576 |
97.7% |
9.3% |
Solar power |
And your favorite short candidates -- i.e., those rated with one or two stars in CAPS -- are:
Company |
CAPS Stars |
No. of CAPS Ratings |
Percent Bears |
30-Day Price Change |
Tag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nymox Pharmaceutical |
* |
59 |
49.2% |
(7.8%) |
Diagnostic substances |
QLT |
* |
71 |
47.9% |
15.3% |
Diagnostic substances |
Hoku Scientific |
* |
571 |
46.6% |
28.2% |
Solar power |
My favorite stock among today's contenders is Amtech Systems, a supplier of equipment for manufacturing solar cells and related devices. CAPS investor pre176 best explained why in December, I think:
If everyone is at war, what better business is there than being an arms dealer? That's why Amtech is in such a good spot right now, all the solar companies are fighting tooth and nail to increase production dramatically. The proof is in the pudding for Amtech, with solar sales up 150% [year over year], and that doesn't include the $17.4 million that they just booked in one order ... nearly matching the previous year's solar income!
Nor does it include the $5 million in follow-on orders that Amtech announced on March 31. But is this really a cheap stock? A 0.59 PEG ratio based on calendar 2008 earnings estimates screams "yes!"
So does Fool EPS100Momentum, who suggested in a response to pre176's pitch that Amtech's intrinsic value is north of $69 per share. I'm not at all sure that's reasonable. Still, even if he were off by 75%, investors who buy now would realize a gain of at least 40%.
But that's my take. What would you do? Would you buy Amtech at today's prices? Let us know what you think by signing up for CAPS today. It's 100% free to participate.
Cap off your day with related CAPS Foolishness:
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