Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now

Sales at America's automakers have been going great guns these past few quarters, and you'd think that would be great news for the companies that make parts for all these shiny new autos. In some cases, you'd be right to think that. But in at least one case -- the case of Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI  ) stock -- you'd be very, very wrong.

Shares of auto-parts makers such as Lear (NYSE: LEA  ) and Magna International (NYSE: MGA  ) have rocketed this past year, outperforming the S&P 500 with 46% and 56% returns, respectively. Yet Johnson Controls stock has lagged the market average by more than five points. Why?

Three reasons.

Johnson Controls stock is worse than average
Turns out that when you stack up Johnson Controls stock against its two smaller rivals, there's precious little to recommend it. Johnson Controls' P/E ratio of 27.8 is no bargain. It's more than twice the cost of a share of Magna (which costs 10.5 times earnings), and nearly six times the cost of Lear, which sells for only 4.7 times earnings.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Weingarten Realty Investors(WRI)

Weingarten Realty Investors operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company engages in the management, acquisition, and development of real estate. It operates in two segments, Shopping Center and Industrial. The Shopping Center segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of real estate, primarily anchored neighborhood and community shopping centers located in Texas, California, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, and Maine. Its customer base includes supermarkets, discount retailers, drugstores, and other retailers. The Industrial segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of bulk warehouses and office/service centers. Its properties are located in Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, California, and Tennessee. As of June 30, 2005, Weingarten Realty Investors owned or operated under long -term leases, directly or through its interest in joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 350 developed properties and 3 properties that are in various stages of development. Its properties include 294 shopping centers and 59 industrial properties. Weingarten Realty Investors qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be taxed on the portion of its income, which is distributed to shareholders, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Dynasty Metals I (DMM.TO)

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper ores. Its principal properties include the Zaruma gold project comprising 46 unsurveyed concessions that cover 103 square kilometers located in the El Oro Province of southwestern Ecuador; the Jerusalem gold project consisting of 1 concession that covers 225 hectares located in the Zamora Chinchipe Province of southeastern Ecuador; and the Dynasty copper-gold project that comprises 51 concessions covering a total project area of approximately 979.81 square kilometers located in the Loja Province of southern Ecuador. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: Steven Madden Ltd.(SHOO)

Steven Madden, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, designs, sources, markets, and sells fashion-forward name brand and private label footwear for women, men, and children. It offers wholesale footwear under the Steve Madden Women?s, Madden Girl, Steve Madden Men?s, Steven, l.e.i., Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye, Stevies, Big Buddha Shoes, Madden, Betsey Johnson shoes, Report, and Superga to department stores, mid-tier department stores, better specialty stores, and independently owned boutiques in the United States. The company also provides wholesale handbags and accessories under the Daisy Fuentes, Olsenboye, Steve Madden, Steven by Steve Madden, Betsey Johnson, Betseyville, and Big Buddha brand names, as well as sells cold weather accessories, fashion scarves, wraps, and other trend accessories primarily under the Cejon and Steve Madden brand names to department stores and specialty stores. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 84 retail stores, including 73 Steve Ma dden full price stores, 6 Steve Madden outlet stores, 3 Steven stores, 1 Report store, and 1 e-commerce Website. In addition, the company licenses its Steve Madden and Steven by Steve Madden trademarks for use in connection with the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of cold weather accessories, sunglasses, eyewear, outerwear, bedding, hosiery and women?s fashion apparel, jewelry, and luggage, as well as licenses Betsey Johnson and Betseyville trademarks for sale of apparel, jewelry, swimwear, eyewear, watches, fragrances, and outerwear. Steven Madden, Ltd. distributes its products through its retail stores and e-commerce Website in department stores, specialty stores, luxury retailers, national chains, and mass merchants in the United States; and through special distribution arrangements in Asia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Australia, Central and South America, and India. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Long Island City, New York.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Triangle Energy(global)

Triangle Energy (Global) Limited engages in the exploration and production of gas primarily in Indonesia. The company holds a 100% working interest in the production sharing contract of the Pase Block consisting of 3 production wells covering an area of approximately 922 square kilometers located in Aceh province, north Sumatra, Indonesia. It also holds a 20% interest in Reid?s Dome gas field, which covers an area of 181 square kilometers located in the Bowen Basin, Queensland. The company is based in Cottesloe, Australia.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Trafford Resources Ltd(TRF.AX)

Trafford Resources Limited engages in the mineral exploration activities in Australia. It primarily explores for iron oxide, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, and uranium deposits. The company primarily holds interests in the Wilcherry Hill project covering 976 square kilometers located in South Australia; and the Lynas Find project consisting of 10 granted prospecting licenses covering approximately 792 hectares located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Trafford Resources Limited is based in West Perth, Australia.