TheStreet.com Ratings: Top 10 Mid-Cap Stocks

Each weekday, TheStreet.com Ratings compiles a list of the top 10 stocks in five categories -- fast-growth, all-around value, large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap -- and publishes these lists in the Ratings section of our Web site.

This list, updated daily, is based on data from the close of the previous trading session. Today, we look at mid-cap stocks. These are stocks of companies that have market capitalizations of between $500 million and $10 billion that rank near the top of all stocks rated by our proprietary quantitative model, which looks at more than 60 factors.

In addition, the stocks must be followed by at least one financial analyst who posts estimates on the Institutional Brokers' Estimate System. The stocks are ordered by their potential to appreciate.

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Today begins with Albemarle(ALB Quote), which develops, manufactures and markets specialty chemicals around the world. It has been rated a buy since March 2005. The company's strengths include notable return on equity, impressive increases in net income and a compelling record of EPS growth.

Albemarle's stock has shown a dramatic appreciation, making it relatively more expensive compared with its industry peers. However, its other strengths justify the higher price levels.

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AllianceBernstein Holding(AB Quote), which provides diversified investment management to a broad range of clients, has been rated a buy since March 2005. The company shows a number of positive financial measures, including a striking record of EPS growth, robust revenue growth, and a very high gross profit margin.

These impressive financial strengths justify the relatively high price of the stock, because the company shows no other significant weaknesses.