This Bear's hibernation is about to end

Readers of this space know that the investment thesis offered here favors large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and that have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support.

Still, every once in awhile an exception is made, in this case to get-ahead-of the-curve regarding a sector's recovery, and with the aforementioned in mind, Bear Stearns is worth an evaluation.

Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) is a leading investment banking, securities, and derivatives trading, clearance, and brokerage firm serving corporations governments, institutional, and individual investors worldwide.

Analysts expect Bear's prime brokerage and asset management businesses to continue to grow, along with adequate-to-good results from its trading division.

Further, there's a sense now among analysts that BSC's mortgage securities and leveraged loan commitments on its balance sheet have been sufficiently written down. That's not to say that there won't be more write-downs or an additional financial bump or two, but the worst appears to be over, at least for Bear.