PowerRatings Weekly Outlook: BDX, OMI, HMSY, AAPL, KFT, PG, MCD

fter a shaky start, this week is winding down to be quite positive for the stock market. Good vibes regarding the stimulus plan and the shrugging off of terrible economic numbers are rocketing stocks higher midday Friday.

Stocks were mixed Monday after Treasury Secretary Geithner advised the full bailout plan will be announced next week. Surprisingly positive Pending Home Sales figures combined with good earnings from the drug sector lifted stocks Tuesday. Midweek saw stocks closing in the negative after President Obama announced his ideas on executive salary caps and worried banks reversed an intraday rally. Fannie Mae gave thumbs up to the lowering of credit score requirements to qualify for mortgages. This combined with a changing of bank accounting requirements send stocks higher on Thursday.

It truly appears that times are a changing in the stock market potentially making 2009 far more positive than the preceding year. I remain solid in the belief that the government cash infusion, bargain hunters, and a tremendous amount of cash just waiting to be deployed should allow the bounce to continue. However, no one really knows what's going to happen in the future, we can just analysis the evidence and make the best educated decisions.

With this in mind, proven tools are critical in times like these to assist you in making the optimal investing decisions. Our Long Term PowerRatings fill this niche by being built upon 12 years of extensive, statistically valid studies across most market conditions.

Our studies indicate that stocks earning a 10 Long Term PowerRating have an 81% chance of being higher one year later. Those with a 9 rating possess a 79.1% chance of trading higher one year later. Conversely, stocks that are awarded low ratings of 1 or 2 have clearly shown to be simply too volatile and risky for prudent, conservative long term investors. You can clearly see the statistical advantage in building a long term portfolio consisting of 9 and 10 rated stocks, while avoiding the lower ratings.

Let's take a closer look at several of the most interesting Long Term PowerRated stocks profiled this week:

Becton Dickinson (BDX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) - A global medical technology company that was just upgraded from a 4 to a 5 Long Term PowerRating. The firm is located in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and employs over 28,000 people worldwide. They just announced fiscal first quarter results with an 18% increase in diluted EPS and a 1.6% increase in revenues. The CEO, Edward Ludwig, provided strong guidance into 2009 and increased targets indicating confidence. Technically, the shares have been in a strong uptrend since November 24th, 2008. Several days ago, an attempt was made to pierce the 200-day SMA with a wide intraday trading range failing on the attempt. Price is above the 50-day SMA, but still below the 200-day which is presently resting at $77.20/share.