Top-Rated Stocks Trouncing the Market

No one has perfect foresight, but let's be honest: The market is full of people who, as Oscar Wilde would say, know "the price of everything and the value of nothing." Far too often -- over the past year especially -- investors have been pitched sensational stock recommendations, only to be left high and dry as shares crumble.  

I summoned our Motley Fool CAPS community to point out a few four- or five-star stocks that have been shootin' for the moon in recent months. Some are still bargains, but others are getting ahead of themselves.

While not formal buy recommendations, these three-month bloomers caught my attention: 

Data from Motley Fool CAPS, and Yahoo! Finance. Price change from July 10 through Oct. 6. 

You can rerun the CAPS screen I used by clicking here.

Gold is huge, people! Huge!
Gold sprang into record territory yesterday, leaving the goldbugs bubbling with excitement. While the yellow metal only moved 2% or so -- not much more than broad stock indices -- you'd never know it. Goldbugs are fired up. They're geniuses. They're vindicated. They've found an investment that can't do anything but go up. And up. And up.

We can't blame them for the excitement. Companies like Yamana Gold surged more than 9% as the dollar plunged, reacting primarily to Australia raising interest rates, and rumors (later denied) that OPEC might give the greenback the boot.

These events undoubtedly reiterate the U.S. dollar's tight spot. Its prominence relied on a world that's slowly weaning itself from the U.S. bottle.  

So let me be clear: I wholeheartedly agree with the foundation on which gold bulls sit. A weak dollar, in my opinion, is nearly written in stone.

But before you down more shots of liquid bullion, I'd urge you to consider other investments that both exploit a weak dollar and are free from the spotlight that's making gold everyone's favorite investment.

As markets rally, fewer and fewer companies look like good values, but bargains can still be found. Companies that still look cheap are primarily well-established large caps. Better yet, a good portion of these companies derive much, if not all, of their revenue from non-dollar currencies. Just like gold, the value of that revenue blows up when the dollar tanks.

Consider Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). It derives 49% of its revenue from non-dollar currencies. It also pays a 3.3% dividend, and trades at a still-attractive 12 times forward earnings estimates. Its health-care-related businesses are still sought by the masses, even as the economy slogs through a recession. If the dollar's on its deathbed, that's the kind of investment I want to own.

Or how about Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM)? As the name implies, 100% of business comes from outside the United States. It's the ultimate weak-dollar play: No U.S. dollars. Customers are hooked. Cash flow is massive. And the dividend is enormous. As CAPS member wuff3t writes:

Huge growth opportunities in overseas markets, reduced exposure to currency valuation fluctuations, and best of all smoking is the one thing people just don't seem to want to give up no matter how bad their finances get. Just hiked their dividend too.

Sure, I agree with the foundations on which goldbugs sit. But I disagree with those who might imply that gold, or any other precious metal, is the only -- or even the best -- way to exploit dollar weakness.

Your turn to chime in
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