Top Fast-Growth Stocks: Strayer, Teva

TSC Ratings TheStreet.com Ratings provides exclusive stock, ETF and mutual fund recommendations using proprietary tools. Our "safety-first" approach aims to reduce risk while achieving performance on a total return basis.

Fast-growth stocks are in the spotlight again.

These companies are projected by analysts to increase revenue and profit by at least 12% in the coming year and receive "buy"-ratings from TheStreet.com Ratings' proprietary quantitative model, which considers more than 60 factors. They are ordered by their potential to appreciate.

Strayer Education(STRA Quote) is a for-profit post-secondary education company that offers a variety of academic programs through Strayer University.

The numbers: Fiscal first-quarter revenue increased 28% to $125 million on higher student enrollment and a 50% jump in tuition since January. Net income rose 24% to $29 million, and earnings per share improved by 26% to $2.07. Return on equity jumped 1,692 basis points to 60%. Strayer has no debt and a quick ratio of 1.47, indicating an ideal financial position.

The stock: Strayer has fallen 2% in 2009, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average and underperforming the S&P 500 Index. Yet the shares are trading at a high price-to-earnings ratio of 35. Its 1% dividend yield is below the S&P 500 average.

National Presto Industries(NPK Quote) makes small appliances, and defense and absorbent products.

The numbers: Fiscal first-quarter revenue increased 40% to $108 million as net income and earnings per share ascended 74% to $11 million and $1.58, respectively. Return on equity advanced 254 basis points to 17%. The company has no debt or interest expenses and abundant cash reserves, as reflected by a quick ratio of 3.57.

The stock: National Presto is down 3% in 2009, in line with the Dow. The shares trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 11 and offer a 1.3% dividend yield.