Five Large-Cap Stocks Set to Grow

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- Blue-chip stocks have lagged broader indices, such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, this year, but here are five picks that could grow fast.

The companies have market caps larger than $10 billion and have been rated "buy" by TheStreet.com Ratings' quantitative model, which considers more than 60 factors. They're ordered by their potential to gain, starting with the company with the best growth prospects.

DirecTV(DTV) provides digital entertainment through its satellite system.

The numbers: Second-quarter net income fell 11% to $407 million, but earnings per share remained flat at 40 cents, helped by a lower share count. Revenue grew 9% to $5.2 billion. The company's gross margin decreased from 52% to 51% and its operating margin fell from 17% to 13%. A quick ratio of 1 indicates adequate liquidity. A debt-to-equity ratio of 1.3 reflects higher-than-ideal leverage.

The stock: DirecTV has ascended 14% this year, more than the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but less than the S&P 500 Index. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 21, a premium to the market and cable and satellite peers. The company doesn't pay dividends.