If you like to follow the buying trends of “smart money” investors such as hedge funds, here are some ideas to get you started. We ran a screen on stocks with 5-year projected EPS growth greater than 20%. Among these high growth stocks, we screened for those seeing the most significant net institutional purchases over the current quarter, expressed as a percent of share float.
We also created a price-weighted index of the stocks mentioned below, and monitored the performance of the list relative to the S&P 500 index over the last month. To access a complete analysis of this list's recent performance, click here. 
Do you think these stocks will outperform like the smart money predicts? Use this list as a starting point for your own analysis. List sorted by net institutional purchases as a percent of share float.
1. Vera Bradley, Inc. (VRA): Engages in the design, production, marketing and retail of functional accessories for women under the “Vera Bradley" brand. Market cap of $1.45B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 22.48%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 4.9M, which is 24.81% of the company's 19.75M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate with a short float at 52.15% (equivalent to 16.46 days of average volume). The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 15.38%.
2. BroadSoft, Inc. (BSFT): Provides software that enables fixed-line, mobile and cable service providers to deliver voice and multimedia services over Internet protocol [IP] based networks. Market cap of $979.93M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 6.0M, which is 24.07% of the company's 24.93M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 23.27% (equivalent to 8.92 days of average volume). The stock has gained 50.37% over the last year.
3. Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (MFN): Engages in the exploration, development and mining of precious and base metal properties. Market cap of $921.56M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 56.70%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 18.3M, which is 22.88% of the company's 79.98M share float. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.64, and P/FCF ratio at 13.74. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 5.03% over the last week.
4. E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (DANG): Operates as a business-to-consumer e-commerce company in the People's Republic of China. Market cap of $369.40M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 53.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.5M, which is 19.75% of the company's 27.85M share float. The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 7.21% below its SMA20, 17.88% below its SMA50, and 64.21% below its SMA200. The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 15.58%.
5. Amyris, Inc. (AMRS): An integrated renewable products company, offers renewable compounds for a variety of markets. Market cap of $514.72M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.0%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 2.7M, which is 19.14% of the company's 14.11M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 15.89% (equivalent to 19.97 days of average volume). The stock has lost 49.17% over the last year.
6. KIT digital, Inc. (KITD): Provides cloud-based video management solutions for multi-screen delivery worldwide. Market cap of $420.06M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 28.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.2M, which is 17.62% of the company's 40.86M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 31.26% (equivalent to 15.22 days of average volume). The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 26.43%.
7. Heckmann Corporation (HEK): A holding company, acquires or makes investments in various businesses. Market cap of $744.74M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 16.7M, which is 17.11% of the company's 97.60M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 19.14% (equivalent to 11.57 days of average volume). The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 5.11% over the last week.
8. VIVUS Inc. (VVUS): Engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for underserved markets in the United States. Market cap of $911.02M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 53.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 9.8M, which is 17.10% of the company's 57.30M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 18.66% (equivalent to 11.53 days of average volume). The stock has gained 10.33% over the last year.
9. Gulfport Energy Corp. (GPOR): Develops and produces oil and gas in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Market cap of $1.66B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 43.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.3M, which is 16.86% of the company's 43.29M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.45). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 13.08% over the last week.
10. Universal Display Corp. (PANL): Engages in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode [OLED] technologies and materials for use in flat panel display, solid-state lighting and other product applications. Market cap of $1.69B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 24.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.2M, which is 16.50% of the company's 31.52M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 24.55% (equivalent to 5.49 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 12.06% over the last week.
11. Higher One Inc. (ONE): Provides technology and payment services to the higher education industry in the United States. Market cap of $1.0B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 27.86%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 4.9M, which is 15.95% of the company's 30.72M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 20.83% (equivalent to 24.93 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 11.14% over the last week.
12. Financial Engines, Inc. (FNGN): Provides independent, technology-enabled portfolio management services, investment advice and retirement income services to participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans. Market cap of $991.45M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 32.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.8M, which is 13.32% of the company's 43.55M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 21.08% (equivalent to 21.24 days of average volume). The stock has gained 24.3% over the last year.
13. Approach Resources, Inc. (AREX): Engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and gas properties in the United States. Market cap of $832.97M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 34.40%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.3M, which is 13.24% of the company's 24.92M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 19.65% (equivalent to 9.48 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 10.04% over the last week.
14. Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (MLNX): Engages in the design, development, marketing and sale of interconnect products primarily in North America, Israel, Europe and Asia. Market cap of $1.28B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 25.85%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.4M, which is 12.62% of the company's 26.94M share float. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 9.8% over the last week.
15. iRobot Corporation (IRBT): Designs and builds robots for the consumer, government, and industrial markets. Market cap of $836.62M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 22.50%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.1M, which is 12.59% of the company's 24.62M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 15.16% (equivalent to 10.63 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 5.41% over the last week.
16. Sourcefire, Inc. (FIRE): Provides intelligent Cybersecurity solutions for information technology [IT]; environments of commercial enterprises, such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, energy, education, retail and telecommunications; and federal, state, and international government organizations worldwide. Market cap of $965.18M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.4M, which is 12.35% of the company's 27.52M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 22.13% (equivalent to 13.48 days of average volume). The stock has gained 32.01% over the last year.
17. China Kanghui Holdings (KH): Develops, manufactures and markets orthopedic implants and associated instruments. Market cap of $315.93M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 21.77%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.1M, which is 11.41% of the company's 9.64M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 11.85% (equivalent to 24.69 days of average volume). The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 10.22% below its SMA20, 19.12% below its SMA50, and 32% below its SMA200. It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 9.98% over the last week.
18. Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (KOG): Engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States. Market cap of $1.27B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 35.0%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 22.3M, which is 11.19% of the company's 199.21M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 3.42). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 6.16% over the last week. The stock has had a good month, gaining 16.05%.
19. Calpine Corp. (CPN): An independent wholesale power generation company, owns and operates natural gas-fired and geothermal power plants in North America. Market cap of $6.64B. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 20.51%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 26.7M, which is 11.06% of the company's 241.50M share float. The stock has gained 15.38% over the last year.
20. Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. (CSOD): Provides learning and talent management solution delivered as software-as-a-service. Market cap of $888.94M. Analyst projected EPS growth over the next 5 years at 43.33%. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 2.6M, which is 11.03% of the company's 23.57M share float. The stock has had a good month, gaining 24.85%. *Institutional data sourced from Fidelity, all other data sourced from Finviz.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
