Tractor Supply (TSCO), America's biggest retailer of farm goods, is luring customers and scoring big profits with stores that cater to the rural lifestyle.

The Brentwood, Tenn.-based company is among the strongest stocks in IBD's building products group, which was ranked second out of 197 as of Friday's IBD.

Tractor Supply's Composite Rating is a best-possible 99.

The retailer caters to gentleman farmers and ranchers. It operates more than 1,000 stores in 44 states. Most are located in small towns outside big cities.

Tractor Supply is expected to report Feb. 1 that Q4 profit rose a healthy 37% vs. a year ago, building on gains of 71%, 18% and 45% in the prior three quarters.

"Our expectation is 2012 will be yet another good year for Tractor Supply," CEO Jim Wright recently told IBD.

Revenue gains have ranged from 11% to 20% over the past four quarters. Although that's less than the 25% gains usually seen in leading stocks, it is not a concern for a retailer like Tractor Supply. The company is strong in its niche, and sales growth improved from weaker quarters in 2008 through much of 2010.