STOCK PICKS: Top 5 Small-Cap Stocks for Sept. 12

Each business day, TheStreet.com Ratings compiles a list of the top five stocks in five categories -- fast-growth, all-around value, large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap.

This list is based on data from the close of the previous trading session. Today, small-cap stocks are in the spotlight. These are stocks of companies that have market capitalizations of between $50 million and $500 million that rank near the top of all stocks rated by our proprietary quantitative model, which looks at more than 60 factors.

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

Note that no provision is made for off-balance-sheet assets such as unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments, market value of real estate or contingent liabilities that might affect book value. This could be material for some companies with large underfunded pension plans.

Met-Pro(MPR) manufactures and sells product recovery and pollution control equipment for purification of air and liquids, as well as fluid handling equipment for corrosive, abrasive and high temperature liquids.

Met-Pro has been rated a buy since March 2007, based on such strengths as the company's revenue growth, increase in net income and largely solid financial position. For the second quarter of fiscal 2008, the company reported its highest second quarter results in company history in sales, net income, and earnings per share.

Net income increased 40.3% year over year, rising from $1.93 million to $2.70 million. Net sales climbed to $28.15 million from $26.10 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. EPS rose from 13 cents to 18 cents. Revenue also increased slightly, improving 7.8%. Met-Pro's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.06, and its quick ratio is 3.21, implying that the company has successfully managed its debt levels and is able to cover its short-term cash needs.