Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

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Highest-Rated Stocks Investors Love to Own

http://biz.yahoo.com/special/own041006.html

Today's list features several companies that could certainly be called household names. But landing on our list of 10 "Highest-Rated Stocks Investors Love To Own" means more than simply being the subject of water cooler chatter. More...



1. Caterpillar (CAT) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 98.* Heavy-equipment makers rallied last week after construction-spending data came in better than expected. More.

2. Starbucks (SBUX) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 98. Insiders have been selling shares in recent months, but the stock continues to hit all-time highs. More.

3. Schlumberger (SLB) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 98. Leadership is broad in its industry group – Oil & Gas-Field Services. Fourteen stocks in the group have Composite Ratings of 95 or higher More.

4. Corning (GLW) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 97. Strong sales of flat-panel TVs have been a boon to the leading supplier of liquid crystal display glass. It’s ranked in the IBD Big Cap 20 along with Starbucks, Schlumberger, Merrill Lynch, Qualcomm and Halliburton. More.

5. Merrill Lynch (MER) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 97. The investment bank recently said it would take a $1.2 billion charge in the first quarter due to new accounting standards. More.

6. Halliburton (HAL) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 96. Its first-quarter earnings conference call is scheduled for April 21. Analysts expect a 50% increase in first-quarter profit of 87 cents a share and a 14% rise in sales to $5.62 billion. More.

7. Qualcomm (QCOM) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 96. The maker of wireless communications products is expected to grow annual earnings by 33% in 2006 to $1.56 a share. Annual pre-tax margin in 2005 was 49.3%. More.

8. Cisco Systems (CSCO) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 91. The maker of networking and communications hardware was recently ranked No. 83 in the latest Fortune 500. More.

9. Valero Energy (VLO) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 90. Limited refining capacity in the U.S. has boosted shares of the San Antonio-based firm, but recent weekly price gains have come on below-average volume. More.

10. Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) - View IBD Stock Checkup
Composite Rating: 89. The maker of desktop and mobile computers, printers and servers is expected to grow annual earnings by 20% in 2006 and 14% in 2007. More


* The IBD SmartSelect Composite Rating combines all 5 SmartSelect Ratings into one easy-to-use rating. More weight is placed on EPS and RS Rating, and the stock's percent off its 52-week high is also included in the formula.