The stock of Stanley Works (SWK), which I first discussed here on February 10, 2009, at $32.48, continues to power higher, dusting $70 psychological resistance and testing $77 before a recent pullback. If you haven't already, now may be a good time to consider taking some profits off the table, if you're in near $32.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position in SWK, as more upside is likely ahead.

Spring has officially begun, and now may be the time to consider some investments that could add a little "spring" to your portfolio.

Topping the list are companies like Lowe's (LOW) and Home Depot (HD). They stand to benefit from the nicer weather as people head outdoors to work on the garden, plant new beds, maintain the lawn, and take care of home improvements.

Stanley Works (SWK) shares, first discussed here on February 10, 2009, at a price of $32.48, have put both $60 and $70 psychological resistance in the rear-view mirror in the past three months, and now may be a good time to consider taking some profits off the table, if you're in near $32.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position in SWK, as more upside is likely ahead.

With Stanley's March 2010 acquisition of Black & Decker complete, look for 2011 sales to surge 20% to 22%, including organic growth of about 6% to 9%. In 2012, revenue should rise 7% to 10%.

Analyst Upgrades

• Home Depot (HD) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Delta Air Lines (DAL) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Heico (HEI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• MB Financial (MBFI) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Oshkosh (OSK) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Volterra (VLTR) and Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Ascena Retail Group (ASNA) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Cytec Industries (CYT) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

As forecast in July, Stanley Works' (SWK) shares, first discussed here on February 10, 2009 at a price of $32.48, found support at/near $50, and have since retaken the $60 mark. However, if you missed the summer re-entry point, fret not: there's more upside ahead for Stanley.

As a result of Stanley's acquisition of Black & Decker in March, look for 2010 sales to rise more than 100%, followed by a 10-15% in 2011.

Moreover, rare is the day you will find a steadier performer than New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley Works. Tool and hardware manufacturer Stanley is sort of a microcosm of the industrial ascension of the United States. Stanley is a low-profile, highly productive manufacturer of tools and hardware for consumer and industrial use: hammers, screwdrivers, saws, pliers, wood planes and measuring tape, etc. The craftsmanship and durability of it products is renowned.

Analyst Upgrades

• Jefferies upgraded Computer Sciences (CSC) to buy from hold and raised its target to $53 from $47. The analyst said Computer Sciences' valuation has created one of the best LBO opportunities in several years and could provide a five year IRR of 25+%.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Comerica (CMA) to outperform from market perform, citing strength of the company's capital. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $43.
• RBC Capital upgraded Nokia (NOK) to outperform from sector perform and raised its price target to $14 from $12. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation, reduced execution risk on software development, and potential catalysts from new devices based on Symbian^3. RBS upgraded Nokia to buy from hold after the company named Stephen Elop as CEO.
• Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Moody's (MCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Since I first discussed Stanley Works (SWK) here on February 10, 2009, at a price of $32.48, the shares have pulled-back roughly in-sync with the Dow's recent retreat. But they have since found support near $50, and I obviously still like the shares. Here's why.

Look for experienced, battle-tested Stanley Works to post a nearly 100% revenue increase in 2010, mostly on the strength of its Black & Decker acquisition, but also as the tool sector benefits from strong growth in emerging markets. A factor that's up in the air? The status of the U.S. economic expansion in the second half of 2010.

As the saying goes, don't overdo it. Investors who bought Stanley Works (SWK), which I first recommended on February 10, 2009, at a price of $32.48, should probably pay heed to that advice, given that the stock has soared in about a year to more than $60.

It's not unreasonable for those who bought in February 2009 to take some profits off the table. The current price amounts to about an 85% gain for those who bought at $32.48 and in this market, that isn't chopped liver.

Analyst Upgrades

• Stephens upgraded Schlumberger (SLB) to overweight from equal weight with an $80 price target, citing valuation and the company's international activity.
• Roth Capital upgraded Synutra International (SYUT) to buy from hold, citing the company's improved outlook, increased market share and valuation. The firm has a $27 target on shares.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Progressive (PGR) to perform from underperform as it believes the company's focus on growth could move shares higher in the near-term.
• Inergy Holdings (NRGP) was upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to hold from sell at Societe Generale.
• Vale SA (VALE) was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord.

Analyst Upgrades

• Leerink upgraded Genzyme (GENZ) to outperform from market perform due to valuation as it believes the sell-off on news of the consent decree is overdone.
• FBR Capital upgraded Progressive (PGR) to outperform from market perform to reflect an improving outlook. The firm raised its target price for shares to $23 from $18.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) two notches to buy from sell, citing improving casual-dining sales trends. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• Research in Motion (RIMM) was raised to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Tata Motors (TTM) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Palm (PALM) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.

Analyst Upgrades

• Macquarie upgraded Boeing (BA) to outperform from neutral based on increased delivery forecasts for next year. The firm has an $83 target on the stock.
• William Blair upgraded Polycom (PLCM) to outperform from market perform, citing strong industry demand and improving execution.
• Rodman & Renshaw upgraded Idera Pharmaceuticals (IDRA) to outperform from market perform to reflect the company's platform technologies and partnership potential.
• Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Jacobs Engineering (JEC) was raised to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Felcor Lodging (FCH) was upgraded at FBR Capital to outperform from market perform.

In a normal market, the conventional outlook of investing for capital gains applies. But in a not-so-normal market of today -- a market that moves sideways (or worse) for more than a year -- the conventional strategy is not adequate.

I fully expect the bull market to continue this year after a 10% Dow correction, but for those who hold a different view, here are a few, quality, dividend stocks that also offer modest capital gain potential:

BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) -- Recent stock price: $88. Annual dividend: $14.45. Simply, BPT boasts a solid operation.

Experienced, prudent, and relentlessly profitable Stanley Works (SWK) has weathered the U.S./global recession in fine shape and is now poised to capitalize on the economic recovery, hence it goes without saying that I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on February 10, 2009, at a price of $32.88. If you bought SWK in February 2009, you're up a smart 60%.

Simply, rare is the day you will find a steadier performer than New Britain, Conn.-based SWK. Tool and hardware manufacturer Stanley is sort of a microcosm of the industrial ascension of United States. Stanley is a low-profile, highly productive manufacturer of tools and hardware for consumer and industrial use: hammers, screwdrivers, saws, pliers, wood planes and measuring tape, etc. The craftsmanship and durability of it products is renowned.

A double win: I'm Reiterating by Buy rating for New Britain,Conn.-based tool maker Stanley Works (NYSE: SWK) after the company announced Monday it will buy Black & Decker Corp. (NYSE: BDK) for $4.5 billion in an all-stock deal.

Stanley, first recommended on February 10, 2009 at a price of $32.88, sees the deal as $1 accretive to earnings per share within three years.

Meanwhile, shareholders of Black & Decker, first recommended on April 17, 2009 at a price of $33.53, will receive a 22.1% premium to BDK's closing price as of Friday, October 30, 2009 of $47.22, or about $57.65 per share. Hence, if you bought BDK in April, that represents a 71.9% gain for owning the stock about six months. Not bad.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says opportunistic mergers help deliver value to shareholders during difficult times.

The companies aren't oblivious to this difficult environment. It isn't just that they look at the futures and say, "Uh oh, here comes another bad one" -- the reaction we all feel today. No, it doesn't work like that. They realize that growth's been lowered worldwide and that they can't do it on their own because they don't have critical mass and they have to give up and get together with others in their industries to bring out value.

Black & Decker (NYSE: BDK) (Cramer's Take) and Encore (NYSE: EAC) (Cramer's Take) came to this exact same conclusion at the same time. They just can't make more money for their shareholders independently than they can with other partners. With Encore settling for Denbury's (NYSE: DNR) (Cramer's Take) bid and Black & Decker agreeing to be acquired by Stanley Works (NYSE: SWK) (Cramer's Take), both are settling for about half of what their companies were worth two years ago. But the world has changed in two years, and a lot of the rosy scenarios that justified being independent have to be reconsidered.