D rugmakers have dominated the Big Cap 20 list for months, but some retailers have been sneaking their way up the list of big companies the healthy earnings gains.O'Reilly Automotive has been a growth story for several years. Motorists are keeping their cars longer, helping the market for aftermarket parts. As of Sept. 30, O'Reilly operated 4,311 stores in 43 states.O'Reilly has proved to be a stock an investor can sleep with. In the last 18 quarters, the company has failed to deliver year-over-year earnings growth of 20% or more only twice, and those quarters were 19% and 18%. In the most recent quarter, EPS grew 22%. Analysts are forecasting a 19% increase in the next report. Sales increases are typically in the high single-digits.The five-year annualized EPS growth rate is 27%. Analysts expect 20% EPS growth this year and 14% next.The Earnings Stability Factor is 3 on a 0 to 99 scale where low numbers correspond to steady earnings growth.The stock gapped out of a flat base Oct. 23 following the most recent earnings report and is now extended roughly 20% in the profit-taking zone,St Louis Cardinals Hats.Paint maker Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) is riding an upswing in homebuying and remodeling. It's also a perennial grower now trading near an all-time high, extended after finding support at its 50-day moving average.After earnings declines in the depressed years of 2008 and 2009, the company is back on the growth track with a five-year annualized EPS growth rate of 18%. The Earnings Stability Factor is 4.Quarterly earnings growth has accelerated from 3% to 14%, 18% and 25% in the most recent quarter. Acceleration like that is a rare find in a stock and should be taken as an important positive development. Analysts expect 20% in the next report.It was No. 16 on last week's Big Cap 20 list, but has fallen off this week.Discounters have been doing well in this recovery, so it's no surprise Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) is on the Big Cap 20 list. It operates 1,146 Ross Dress for Less stores in 33 states offering name brand and designer apparel, footwear, accessories and home fashions. It also has 130 dd's Discounts stores in 10 states.Ross also has accelerating earnings growth as EPS has gone from a 5% decline to 7%, 14% and 16% growth. Analysts are forecasting 9% growth in the next report.The five-year annualized EPS growth rate is 21% The 2013 return on equity is 44%, well above the 17% benchmark investors should seek.Ross is extended from a cup-with-handle base and near a 20% profit, often a good spot to take profits.Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV), which is extended from any buy point, reported earnings of 62% in the most recent report. We sale so cheap hat online in