Chicago, IL – September 21, 2010 – Stocks in this week’s article include A. O. Smith Corp. (NYSE: AOS), The Cato Corp. (NYSE: CATO), Horace Mann Educators Corp. (NYSE: HMN), PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE: PPG) and Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ROC). Kevin Matras talks about stocks making new highs and why you shouldn’t be afraid to buy them.

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

Today I’m going over a simple screen with a powerful concept: Buying stocks making new highs.

I know some are reluctant to buy stocks making new 52-week highs. If you’re one of them, have you ever asked yourself why? If a stock is making a new 52-week high, that’s a good thing. Just like a stock making a new 52-week low is bad thing.

I’m pretty sure that a person who dislikes buying stocks making new 52-weeks highs wouldn’t be too upset if the stocks he already owned broke out to new 52-week highs. And why should he? Statistics have shown that stocks making new highs have a tendency of making even higher highs.

Of course the fundamentals need to be there. And you should keep a watchful eye on valuations. But if you were in a stock making new highs and cheering it on, it seems silly to be afraid of one doing the same just because you haven’t bought it.

One question I like asking myself just to put things into perspective is: If I was in it, would I be excited and would I still want to be in it? If the answer is yes, then I’ll look for the best opportunity to get in. If the answer is no and I’d want to take profits, then I’ll move on.

The screen I’m running today looks for…

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SMITH (AO) CORP (AOS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CATO CORP A (CATO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
HORACE MANN EDS (HMN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
PPG INDS INC (PPG): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
ROCKWOOD HLDGS (ROC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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