Micron, Lennar: S&P Gainers

These stocks are among the best performers in the S&P 500 on Monday.

Author:: Alexandra Zendrian
Publish date:: Feb 27, 2012 5:24 PM EST

These stocks are among the best performers in the S&P 500 on Monday.

NEW YORK (

TheStreet

) --

Micron Technology

(MU) - Get Report

and

Lennar

(LEN) - Get Report

were among the best-performing stocks in the

S&P 500

on Monday.

The S&P 500 rose 1.85 points to 1,367.59.

Shares of Micron Technology rose 7.67% to $8.56. One of the company's competitors, Japan's

Elpida Memory

, announced Monday it was filing for bankruptcy protection.

Micron Technology has a forward P/E of 17.1; the average for semiconductor companies is 15.81. For comparison, both

Altera

(ALTR) - Get Report

and

Sandisk

(SNDK)

have lower forward P/Es of 17.09 and 8.61, respectively.

Nineteen of the 27 analysts who cover Micron Technology rated it buy. Seven analysts gave it a hold rating and one rated it sell.

TheStreet Ratings

gives Micron Technology a

C- grade

and a hold rating. The stock has increased 36.09% year to date.

Shares of Lennar increased 2.5% to $22.94. Pending home sales in January rose 2%, reaching a

two-year high

Lennar's forward P/E is 17.78; the average for home construction companies is 20.8. For comparison,

D. R. Horton

(DHI) - Get Report

has a lower forward P/E of 17.28;

Toll Brothers'

(TOL) - Get Report

forward P/E is 31.82.

Thirteen of the 23 analysts who cover Lennar rated it hold. Nine analysts gave the stock a buy rating and two rated it sell.

TheStreet Ratings

gives Lennar a B- grade with a buy rating and

$26.68

price target. The stock has risen 16.74% year to date.

Here are some of the other top S&P performers on Monday:

Whirlpool (WHR) - Get Report: The stock increased 6.73% Monday to $76.10. It has risen 60.38% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Whirlpool a B- grade with a buy rating and $81.89 price target.
Medco Health Solutions (MHS) : The stock rose 3.71% Monday to $66.52. It has increased 19% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Medco Health Solutions a B grade with a buy rating and $73.98 price target.
Sprint (S) - Get Report: The stock increased 3.24% Monday to $2.55. It has risen 8.97% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Sprint a D grade and sell rating.
International Paper (IP) - Get Report: The stock rose 3.01% Monday to $33.91. It has increased 14.56% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives International Paper an A- grade with a buy rating and $38.44 price target.
CF Industries (CF) - Get Report: The stock increased 2.86% Monday to $189.13. It has risen 30.45% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives CF Industries a B- grade with a buy rating and $245.86 price target.
Wells Fargo (WFC) - Get Report: The stock rose 2.82% Monday to $31.03. It has increased 12.59% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Wells Fargo a B grade with a buy rating and $35.40 price target.
SunTrust Banks (STI) - Get Report: The stock increased 2.47% Monday to $22.85. It has risen 29.1% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives SunTrust Banks a C grade and hold rating.
State Street (STT) - Get Report: The stock rose 2.29% Monday to $41.46. It has increased 2.85% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives State Street a B grade with a buy rating and $47.19 price target.