Hot stocks to buy in April

Corporate spending on information technology already has begun to rebound, suggesting to some analysts that the tech sector is poised to outpace the rest of the economy this year. Wal-Mart (WMT, news, msgs) recently awarded multi-year application-development contracts to Infosys Technologies (INFY, news, msgs) and Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH, news, msgs).

And recent growth forecasts from companies such as Autodesk (ADSK, news, msgs) indicate that software demand is picking up as businesses make purchases that were deferred during the downturn. Overall, tech spending is projected to rise 8% in 2010, according to Forrester Research, after a 1% decline last year.

One of Markman's strategies involves investing an equal amount of money in each of the stocks in the computer-generated portfolio at the start of the month, selling them at the end of the month, then beginning the process again the next month. For investors who prefer to handle fewer stocks, Markman recommends using the strategy with the top 10 stocks on the list.

An investor who followed Markman's 10-stock strategy since it was launched would have realized a gain of 454% through Dec. 31, according to Gradient Analytics, and had an annual average return of 22.4%. Over the same period, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ($INX) was down 7.9%.
This score is combined with each company's StockScouter rating to come up with the list in the above chart. Only stocks with a final closing price above $3 are eligible for the list
The chart below represents the benchmark StockScouter portfolio for April
Apple (AAPL, news, msgs)
Digital media, computers
$235.00
10

Balchem (BCPC, news, msgs)
Specialty ingredients
$24.65
10

Donaldson (DCI, news, msgs)
Industrial equipment
$45.12
10

Citrix Systems (CTXS, news, msgs)
Information technology
$47.47
10

Cognizant Technology (CTSH, news, msgs)
IT consulting and services
$50.98
10

Family Dollar Stores (FDO, news, msgs)
Discount stores
$36.61
10

Lubrizol (LZ, news, msgs)
Engine oil additives
$91.72
10

Qualcomm (QCOM, news, msgs)
Wireless communications
$41.96
9

Healthcare Realty Trust (HR, news, msgs)
Outpatient health care
$23.29
10

Rayonier (RYN, news, msgs)
Forest products
$45.43
10

New York Community Bancorp (NYB, news, msgs)
Savings and loan
$16.54
10

Home BancShares (HOMB, news, msgs)
Banking
$26.44
10

Strayer Education (STRA, news, msgs)
Online education
$243.52
10

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (VRX, news, msgs)
Pharmaceuticals
$42.91
10

Union Pacific (UNP, news, msgs)
Railroads
$73.30
10

Infosys Technologies (INFY, news, msgs)
Technology services
$58.81
10

Credicorp (BAP, news, msgs)
Financial services
$88.18
10

Hasbro (HAS, news, msgs)
Toys and games
$38.28
10

Electronic Arts (ERTS, news, msgs)
Video games
$18.66
10

Compuware (CPWR, news, msgs)
Computer software
$8.40
10

City Holding (CHCO, news, msgs)
Banking
$34.29
10

Cardinal Health (CAH, news, msgs)
Medical products
$36.03
10

Accelrys (ACCL, news, msgs)
Business software
$6.16
9

Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP, news, msgs)
Coal
$41.91
10

Novellus Systems (NVLS, news, msgs)
Semiconductor equipment
$24.99
10

Old Republic International (ORI, news, msgs)
Insurance
$12.68
10

EV Energy Partners (EVEP, news, msgs)
Oil and natural gas
$31.92
10

Investors Bancorp (ISBC, news, msgs)
Banking
$13.20
10

Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI, news, msgs)
Cable television
$44.35
10

TICC Capital (TICC, news, msgs)
Investments
$6.59
10

Encore Energy Partners (ENP, news, msgs)
Oil and natural gas
$19.95
10

Rent-A-Center (RCII, news, msgs)
Rentals
$23.65
10

Radware (RDWR, news, msgs)
Networking devices
$22.08
NA

Jack in the Box (JACK, news, msgs)
Fast food
$23.55
NA

Banco Santander (SAN, news, msgs)
Financial services
$68.22
10

Lancaster Colony (LANC, news, msgs)
Specialty foods
$58.96
10

Benchmark Electronics (BHE, news, msgs)
Printed circuit boards
$20.74
9

Greenlight Capital Re (GLRE, news, msgs)
Reinsurance
$26.68
10

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE, news, msgs)
Online marketplace
$112.18
10

Pactiv (PTV, news, msgs)
Packaging
$25.18
10

F5 Networks (FFIV, news, msgs)
Networking services
$61.63
10

Autodesk (ADSK, news, msgs)
Computer-aided design
$29.38
10

Albemarle (ALB, news, msgs)
Specialty chemicals
$42.63
10

Big Lots (BIG, news, msgs)
Discount retail
$36.22
10

Nationwide Health Properties (NHP, news, msgs)
Health care facilities
$35.15
10

VeriSign (VRSN, news, msgs)
Internet infrastructure
$26.02
9

Teledyne Technologies (TDY, news, msgs)
Electronic instruments
$41.27
10

Waste Services (WSII, news, msgs)
Solid waste
$9.89
10

Lam Research (LRCX, news, msgs)
Semiconductor equipment
$37.32
10

Eaton Vance (EV, news, msgs)
Asset management
$33.54
10