Zacks Investment Ideas Feature Highlights: Stanley Black & Decker, Measurements Specialties and Joy Global

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Feb 11, 2011, 09:52 ET

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Features: Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), Measurements Specialties (Nasdaq: MEAS) and Joy Global (Nasdaq: JOYG).

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Once you whittle to universe of stocks to the top performing industries, I chose the top 50 out of 264 groups, go ahead and pick apart the individual companies. A highly ranked stock in a highly ranked sector stands to do pretty well for itself.

I am not saying redefine your strategy, just start there and do what you normally do. Make sure the valuations are decent and the story has a good chance to continue moving forward. Perhaps you like the charts and technicals are in place. Just start with hot sectors, and pick out hot stocks.

A Few Stocks in Hot Industries

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is the top rated of 7 companies in the third ranked industry, out of 264. The well-known tool company has everything you could ask for.

On Jan 27 they posted their tenth consecutive earnings surprise thanks to a 10% increase in revenues. EPS came in at $1.05 which was 13 cents better than expected.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate jumped 22 cents for 2011, to $4.91 and 18 cents for 2012, to $5.99. Thanks to those upward revisions SWK is expected to grow 19% this year, 22% next year and is currently a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy).

Measurements Specialties (Nasdaq: MEAS) is the top rated, of 11 companies, in the 14th ranked industry. MEAS supplies technology products and systems to research, aerospace and defense/security, precision industrial and other markets.

The estimates picture looks fantastic, with upward revisions right up to and just after the Feb 2 earnings surprise. The full-year 2011 consensus is now at $1.33, which is a 22% growth rate. Next year's forecasts are up 16 cents, to $1.36 for a more modest 3% growth rate. Given MEAS's estimate history though, the consensus should rise significantly throughout the year.

Joy Global (Nasdaq: JOYG) is the top rated of 8 companies in the 16th ranked construction and mining machinery industry.

JOYG analysts are looking for 20% growth this fiscal year and another 16% next year. The company's next quarterly report should come out in early March and should push those estimates higher.

As far as efficiency goes, it is easy to see why Joy Global is king of the hill. Its net profit margin of 12.7% and ROE of 41% are roughly double the industry average.

The Trend is Your Friend

Call it jumping on the bandwagon, but if you as long as you roll with the trend you will be in good shape. Picking areas that are doing well will improve your odds of selecting better companies and in turn, bolstering your portfolio.

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