Top 3 Big-Data Stocks for 2012

Netezza, however, is just one part of IBM's big data story, which also encompasses InfoSphere software for exploring, analyzing and cleansing data . The company also touts its Smart Analytics System, a combination of server and storage hardware with text analytics and data mining software, for companies wrestling with unstructured data.

Big data feeds into IBM's broader push into analytics, epitomized by its purchases of business intelligence specialist Cognos and predictive analytics firm SPSS. The Armonk, N.Y.-based tech giant, which has acquired 28 analytics companies since 2005, expects to generate $16 billion in analytics revenue by 2015.

Underlining this effort, IBM launched its PureSystems offerings last week; packages of servers, storage, networking and tightly-integrated analytics software. The company also purchased privately-held sales analytics specialist Varicent.

IBM, which recently a new all-time high, is expected to report yet another decent quarter on Tuesday, boosted by big data and analytics.

TheStreet ratings rates IBM's stock 'buy' thanks to the company's sales growth, return on equity and future upside potential.

EMC

Market Cap: $59.81 billion

Storage giant EMC, which reports its first-quarter results on Thursday, is another top big data stock.