Every quarter as we approach earnings season, I tell everyone to use Portfolio Grader to make sure they come into earnings season locked and loaded with the very best stocks.

Investors who try this approach for the first time inevitably come back and say, “I wish I had known about this years ago. It is like having a crystal ball!”

Portfolio Grader is not a crystal ball by any means but it does help you find those stocks that have strong sales and earnings growth and are likely to post a positive earning surprise leading to a move up in the stock price. Those with poor grades from the stock ranking tool are see slumping sales and earnings and are likely to disappoint and see their stock price decline.

Here are three big tech stocks through Portfolio Grader’s eyes:

Apple (AAPL)

Take Apple (AAPL) as an example. Analysts and traders spend hours discussing when Apple is going to change direction and move lower. It seems everyone is trying to time the short-term movements in the stock.

Meanwhile, Portfolio Grader has recognized that business just keeps getting better for Apple, and AAPL stock has an “A” or “strong buy” ranking since May. Apple reported earnings this week and profits were up 20% year over year and once again exceeded the consensus Wall Street estimate.

AAPL stock is, once again, headed for new 52-week highs.

IBM (IBM)

IBM (IBM) came into earnings season with just a “C” or “hold” grade from Portfolio Grader. IBM has seen declining revenues for four quarters in a row.

The latest reports shows another revenue slowdown, and IBM fell almost 15% short of the consensus expectation of the analysts. Portfolio Grader recognized the deteriorating conditions at IBM a long time ago, and IBM stock has been ranked as a “hold” or “sell” for the past year.

IBM shares are down almost 10% in 2014 and dropped again after the earnings release. Investors who used Portfolio Grader have avoided IBM stock.

Intel (INTC)

Intel (INTC) is no longer seen as the monster growth stock it used to be and many consider it to be old tech and the shares have something of a blue chip flavor about the these days .

Someone forgot to tell Intel that business was supposed to just creep along. Intel reported this week and once again exceeded analyst expectations. Portfolio Grader recognized the improving conditions at Intel in the summer and the stock was upgraded to an “A” or “strong buy” back in July.

Big tech companies can see wildly different results and the stocks can make big moves in reaction to earnings. Using Portfolio Grader can help you find those that are likely to over deliver and see strong positive moves in their stock price and avoid those that will fall short and see a decline

Louis Navellier is a renowned growth investor. He is the editor of five investing newsletters: Blue Chip Growth, Emerging Growth, Ultimate Growth, Family Trust and Platinum Growth. His most popular service, Blue Chip Growth, has a track record of beating the market 3:1 over the last 14 years. He uses a combination of quantitative and fundamental analysis to identify market-beating stocks. Mr. Navellier has made his proven formula accessible to investors via his free, online stock rating tool, PortfolioGrader.com. Louis Navellier may hold some of the aforementioned securities in one or more of his newsletters.