JEC Jacobs Engineering Group Inc

Chicago, IL – January 17, 2012 - Stocks in this week's article include Brookfield Office Properties Inc. (NYSE: BPO), Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE: JEC) and MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTX). Kevin Matras shows how to find the top stocks in the top sectors with the biggest potential for a catch-up price move.

Screen of the Week written by Kevin Matras of Zacks Investment Research:

Given the recent run-up in the market, here's a screen I've been using recently for my own stock picking.

First, it focuses in on the top Zacks Ranked Sectors and Industries. Then it focuses in on the Zacks #1 Ranks and Zacks #2 Ranks, which are Strong Buys and Buys, respectively. But then it selects the outperforming stocks with the smallest percentage price change over the last 4 weeks.

Why would I do something like that?

Here's why.

You've probably heard the old adage that roughly half of a stock's price movement can be attributed to the group that it's in. And it's true. In fact, oftentimes, even a mediocre stock in a top group will outperform a top stock in a poor group for this very reason.

Now, take a look at any top group. You'll see plenty of fantastic stocks with some impressive price gains in there. But not every stock in every group moves in lockstep at the exact same time. Some will move more than others at any given time.

So by focusing on the stocks with the smallest percentage price change that have fundamentals that are just as good as those making the biggest price change, you might find yourself getting into the stocks ready to make the biggest potential catch-up move.

Here's how to set up that screen:

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BROOKFLD OFFICE (BPO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
FISERV INC (FISV): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
HALOZYME THERA (HALO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
JACOBS ENGIN GR (JEC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
MARKETAXESS HLD (MKTX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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