Choosing the right stocks is critical for generating significant long-term returns. To help find potential winners to buy and hold, investors can screen for names that Wall Street rates as “strong buy” or “outperform.” A consensus “strong buy” rating typically indicates that analysts believe the company will outperform its peers in the sector, or the overall market, over the long haul. More specifically, and more to the point for investors, this top-tier rating often reflects analysts’ belief that the company’s financial performance is set to improve dramatically, thereby boosting its stock pr…