Most investors don't keep tabs on their companies' fundamental value. That's a mistake. If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're in a much better position to spot potential trouble early. Better yet, you'll improve your odds of finding the underappreciated home run stocks that provide the market's best returns.
We can help you keep tabs on your companies with MyWatchlist.com, our free, personalized stock tracking service. Here are five stocks from my watchlist that have been hot lately.
1. Capstone Turbine
Capstone caught my eye after it had risen 55% over the past three months. Capstone makes microturbines that run off various fuel sources and allow customers to produce power and heat on-site, as opposed to relying solely on the electrical grid. Last quarter, its revenue rose 22% year over year, while its backlog increased 41%. Those gains and subsequent orders have led to the stock taking off these past three months. Capstone reports third-quarter earnings on Monday, and hopefully the company will continue its trend of posting improved results.
- Add Capstone Turbine to My Watchlist.
2. Avanir Pharmaceuticals
Avanir Pharmaceuticals caught my eye after it had risen 72% over the past three months. At the end of October, the company's shares doubled when the FDA approved Nuedexta, the firm's treatment for pseudobulbar affect (PBA). Neudexta has no competition right now as it is the only drug approved to treat PBA. This provides a big opportunity, though not huge, and analysts estimate the drug could attain as much as $500 million annually in sales. However, that would be a huge deal for Avanir, which over the past 12 months had only $3 million in sales. The company is a good candidate for a buyout from a big pharmaceutical looking to build out its portfolio and is definitely one to watch.
- Add Avanir Pharmaceuticals to My Watchlist.
3. Power-One
Each week, I cull a top stock idea from the pitches made on CAPS. Power-One was a pick in November and has since risen 17%. To follow my weekly picks, you can subscribe to the series' RSS feed or follow it on Twitter.
- Add Power-One to My Watchlist.
4. Oilsands Quest
Oilsands Quest is continuing on its quest to find oil. Its stock has risen 30% over the past three months after falling 70% in the preceding year. Unlike other speculative oil plays such as ATP Oil & Gas
- Add Oilsands Quest to My Watchlist.
5. FuelCell Energy
FuelCell Energy caught my eye after rallying nearly 60% over the past three months. Shares of FuelCell Energy and competitor Ballard Power Systems
- Add FuelCell Energy to My Watchlist.
Foolish bottom line
If you're looking to keep up with these companies, add them to MyWatchlist.com, our free, personalized stock tracking service. If you're looking for some full stock picks, the Fool recently wrote a report highlighting five stocks that Motley Fool has bought for its own account including the stock Senior Writer Morgan Housel calls "probably the world's greatest investment." If you'd like to see the entire buy thesis on that stock, as well as the other the other four, I invite you to download it for free. Just click here.