For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Pool Corp. (NASDAQ: POOL) is my favorite speculative idea for 2008," says Nathan Slaughter, editor of Half-Priced Stocks. "Pool Corp. is the world's largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies -- selling more than 100,000 different products from a nationwide network of 285 customer service centers.

'Sales have advanced 21% annually over the past decade, and earnings have more than kept pace -- climbing at a stellar 34% clip. Naturally, all of this has translated into hefty gains for shareholders, with the stock soaring almost 1,000% over the past ten years.

"In recent months, though, the company has been an indirect victim of the sluggish housing market, as a slowdown in new home construction in key markets like Arizona and California has forced management to trim back its full-year earnings guidance.

"However, don't let this short-term weakness cloud the sunny long-term outlook. The vast majority of the company's business is tied to maintenance for older pools. Only around one-third of its revenues stem from new pool construction -- and the bulk of that comes from existing homes, not new ones.

"In other words, the soft housing market will only partially dampen demand for pool supplies, and even then just temporarily. In the meantime, sales of patio furniture and other complementary products are fast approaching $200 million per year -- up from almost nothing ten years ago.

"With an installed base of over 8 million pools nationwide, homeowners have no choice but to keep shelling out cash for routine maintenance and service. And with a commanding 35%+ market share, Pool will rake in a steady stream of recurring, non-discretionary income for years to come. Thanks to this recent sell-off, now is an opportune time to dive in."