Some people see the market as a den of speculation.
But those who seek the best stocks don't need to gamble. Consider the greatest winners over the past four decades. Investor's Business Daily found that these companies typically share a record of outstanding profit growth before their shares rocketed ahead in price. In other words, past financial performance greatly affects future stock price performance. These firms also share other key traits, including leadership in a high-growth industry, top sales growth and margins, and support from institutional investors such as mutual funds.