From Canadian Business Online,

To make it as easy as possible for you to pinpoint the best U.S. buys, we’re happy to present our Top 500 ranking of U.S. stocks. Just like our Top 200 Canadian stocks, the Top 500 uses objective measures of financial virtue to uncover potential stars. 

We start by selecting the 500 largest public companies in the U.S. based on revenue. We then evaluate each stock for its growth prospects and assign it a letter grade. The fastest growing stocks are awarded an A. The next group gets a B and so on, all the way down to F.

Growth is only half the equation, though. Next we consider a stock’s value appeal and assign it a grade on that scale as well — the best bargains nab an A; the most expensive stocks walk away with an F. The ideal, of course, is for a stock to get a double A rating, marking it as both an outstanding growth and value prospect, but that’s rare. Indeed, none met this lofty hurdle this summer. But 12 others managed to pickup one A and a B.

Some extraordinary qualities are needed to make this list. Following is the low-down, by value and growth, on how we rate all our 500 U.S. stocks.

NORM ROTHERY, PhD, CFA, is the Chief Investment Strategist at Dan Hallett and Associates Inc. and the founder of the StingyInvestor.com. They may hold securities mentioned in this story.