Top 5 Large-Cap Stocks for Nov. 5

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 -- based on data from the close of the previous trading session. Today, large-cap stocks are in the spotlight.

These are stocks of companies with market capitalizations of over $10 billion that rank near the top of all stocks rated by our proprietary quantitative model, which looks at more than 62 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.

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.

Rohm & Haas(ROH Quote) is a global producer of specialty materials chemicals. It has been rated a buy since November 2003. This rating is supported by the company's revenue growth, solid stock price performance, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2008, the company reported that its earnings inched up 1.6% year over year, led by strong sales growth across business segments. EPS improved 8.2% when compared with the prior year's quarter, despite somewhat volatile earnings growth recently. Timely pricing actions, favorable currency translations, acquisitions, and growth in Rapidly Developing Economies helped drive third quarter revenue higher by 12.1%. Recognition of the company's strengths by investors led to a 27.55% stock price increase over the same quarter last year. In addition, Rohm and Haas announced during the third quarter that it will be acquired by Dow Chemical Company for an aggregate price of $18.80 billion. Dow Chemical expects the acquisition to be completed by early 2009.