The world economy has slowed to a crawl but BHP Billiton Ltd ADR (NYSE: BHP), the Australian mining company that operates in 60 countries and produces commodities that have been in high demand, and are likely to remain so. The eastern economies continue to expand as they try to catch up to the West. The following chart illustrate how BHP has raced past the index like it was standing still.

A company I have written about many times and a stock I have owned for years, the Southern Company (NYSE: SO) just keeps clicking along, paying its dividend, and expanding with the growth of the southeastern United States. I recently bought more when the stock dipped. Southern will be one of the companies developing nuclear energy and its dividend appears to be rock solid. With more and more focus on electric power and more devices being created every day, Southern should be able to maintain its strong cash flow and growth.

The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) company is another favorite on my watch list. I made a few dollars this year on RTN trading options, but have not bought the stock yet. While there are many people that might shun the defense industry given today's federal budget deficits and the scaling back of the Iraq War, I think this is an unjustified fear. Actually it is fear that will keep RTN going because it is the leading provider of missile defense technology, and in case you missed it North Korea has been doing a lot of saber rattling lately.

In addition to it's defense contracts RTN is a leader in technology for airports, including monitoring and communications for aircraft. Our airports are getting more congested all the time and RTN will be a participant in providing solutions to some of the growing problems.

Clearly these stocks have done very well compared to the index and there is no guarantee that this will continue; however, betting on proven winners with products in high demand is a good approach, rather than trying to guess which companies will bounce back from their nightmarish businesses and balance sheets.

In addition to outpacing the overall market, you will be rewarded with dividend payments; BHP 3.06%, SO 5.64%, and RTN 2.88%. Regardless of whether the economy recovers sooner or later, I believe these stocks should stay ahead of the averages.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture and planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I own shares of SO.