Apple, Alcoa: S&P 500 Gainers

These stocks were among the best performers within the S&P 500 Tuesday.

Author:: Alexandra Zendrian
Publish date:: Feb 21, 2012 5:57 PM EST

NEW YORK (

TheStreet

) --

Apple

(AAPL) - Get Report

and

Alcoa

(AA) - Get Report

were among the best-performing stocks on the

S&P 500

Tuesday.

The S&P 500 rose slightly less than a point, or 0.07%, Tuesday to 1,362.21.

Shares of Apple rose 2.54% to $514.85. The iPad 3 is rumored to be launching in early March, according to

Apple Insider

Apple shares hit a 52-week high on Feb. 15 of $526.29. The stock's 52-week low of $310.50 was set on June 20.

Apple has an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 10.8; the average for computer hardware companies is 16.22. For comparison,

(HP) - Get Report

and

Dell

(DELL) - Get Report

both have lower forward P/Es of 6.58 and 8.55 respectively.

Fifty-one of the 56 analysts who cover Apple rate it buy. Four analysts are at hold and one is at sell.

TheStreet Ratings

gives Apple an A+ grade with a buy rating and

$649.24

price target. The stock has risen 27.12% year to date.

Shares of Alcoa rose 2.56% to $10.41. The aluminum company has finalized a joint venture agreement with China Power Investment to make high-end fabricated aluminum-related products for the Chinese market.

Alcoa has a forward P/E of 11.79; the average for aluminum companies is 14.85. For comparison, both

Kaiser Aluminum

(KALU) - Get Report

and

Century Aluminum

(CENX) - Get Report

have higher forward P/Es of 13.2 and 26.49, respectively.

Nine of the 20 analysts who cover Alcoa rated it buy. Eight analysts rated it hold and three gave it a sell rating.

TheStreet Ratings

gives Alcoa a

C- grade

and rated it hold.

Other top S&P 500 performers on Tuesday included:

Wynn Resorts (WYNN) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday with an increase of 5.95% to $119.40. The stock has risen 8.06% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock a B grade with a buy rating and $133.25 price target.
Newmont Mining (NEM) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday rising 3.52% to $61.54. The stock has increased 2.55% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives it an A- grade with a buy rating and $71.62 price target.
Genworth Financial (GNW) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday with an increase of 3.47% to $9.54. The stock has risen 45.65% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock a C grade and hold rating.
Nordstrom (JWN) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday rising 3.23% to $52.79. The stock has increased 6.2% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock an A- grade with a buy rating and $64.96 price target.
CF Industries (CF) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday with an increase of 3.05% to $184.30. The stock has risen 27.12% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock a B- grade with a buy rating and $230.86 price target.
Tyco (TYC) : The stock has closed Tuesday rising 2.86% to $51.38. The stock has increased 10% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives Tyco an A grade with a buy rating and $62.83 price target.
Baker Hughes (BHI) : The stock closed Tuesday with an increase of 2.36% to $51.24. The stock has risen 5.35% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock a B- grade with a buy rating and $60.12 price target.
Marathon Oil (MRO) - Get Report: The stock closed Tuesday rising 2.34% to $34.56. The stock has increased 18.07% year to date. TheStreet Ratings gives the stock a B- grade with a buy rating and $38.80 price target.