Rocket Stocks for the Week

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By Jonas Elmerraji

BALTIMORE (TheStreet) -- Despite a shaky start for stocks last Monday, last week closed with a respectable gain for the market, with the S&P 500 up 2.71% and the Dow up 2.57%. And Stockpickr's Rocket Stocks portfolio fared even better.

The Rocket Stocks portfolio is our weekly list of beaten-down stocks that have both short-term catalysts for growth and long-term investment potential. And this week, we're looking back to rocket stocks as a way to outperform the market. First, though, let's take a look at how last week's picks performed.

Bringing in top gains last week was Sketchers(SKX Quote). The shoemaker's shares gained 7.95% over the last five trading sessions. Much of Sketchers' growth was thanks to upbeat analyst expectations, such as the upgrade Sterne Agee analysts granted the stock. With ample room for growth as the economy continues to improve, this stock will likely keep up its gains.

Mail-order pharmacy Express Scripts(ESRX Quote) was last week's second-biggest gainer, bringing in 5.68% at the heels of earnings and expansion news.

Bank of America(BAC Quote) performed in line with the market, adding 2.46% for the week, along with Tidewater(TDW Quote), which managed to stay in the black with 0.96% gains for the week.

Ford(F Quote), like many automakers, took advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program that unwinds today, but investors weren't able to see the same benefits from its stock. The company closed down 0.4%.

Now on to this week's Rocket Stocks.

First up on this week's list is American International Group(AIG Quote). While the insurance company seems to be in trouble with Federal regulators on a constant basis, a potential bid for an AIG operating unit as well as a recent court victory, should help sway investor confidence back on the side of this firm.