Jamie Dlugosch
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The interest in using natural gas as an alternative to crude has helped natural gas-based companies appreciate in value. Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) has benefited from that interest, with a gain of more than 20% this year.

CHK is an interesting story in that during the craze in energy prices in 2008, the CEO of the company was forced to liquidate his entire position. That forced selling created an opportunity to buy the stock at an incredibly cheap price, even beyond the artificially low energy prices reached earlier this year.

The China miracle is back on track, and with it comes speculation for resource demand as a result of huge economic growth. Within the oil sector, the coal group has seen big gains given its use in power generation. In China, that is particularly true, with the country seeing new power plants open on a regular basis.

Yanzhou Coal Mining (NYSE: YZC) appears to be in the sweet spot. Investors seem to agree and have pushed YZC up almost 70% in 2009. China is an appealing play, but by no means certain.

Drill, baby, drill was the calling card of the Republican Party during the last presidential election.

With high oil prices and rising demand, finding new sources of oil is imperative. Given environmental concerns, offshore drilling is one space that still offers meaningful potential to increase domestic supply.

Diamond Offshore Drilling (NYSE: DO) operates some 45 deep water rigs that are keeping extraordinarily busy with oil prices on the rise.

Suncor Energy (NYSE: SU) is a vertically-integrated oil company located in Canada. Unlike its vertically-integrated brethren in the United States, this Canadian stock is up more than 40% this year. By comparison, Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) is down 13%, and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is down more than 20%.

The reason for the big difference in performance is the weakness in the dollar. That makes Canadian-based Suncor more valuable to investors.

McDermott International (NYSE: MDR) is a global oil engineering and construction company that specializes in offshore oil and gas construction and power generation systems.

Although more diversified than pure oil plays, McDermott has benefited greatly from the increase in price in crude.

The speculation is that McDermott will be quite busy with construction projects, as drillers are more active with the higher prices.

You have to love OPEC. It's not uncommon for the barons of the giant cartel to voice their interest in seeing oil at such-and-such a price.

Recently, OPEC reiterated its desire to see oil prices at $80 per barrel. This, they claim, is the price needed to spur additional investment in crude projects. Apparently, anything less will result in oil sitting idle in the ground.

Can you believe Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) traded below $5 last November?

I can. Its model of big meals and big cheesecake appeared vulnerable to the deep recession. Would consumers cut out the fat in their dining budget?

Apparently not, as the stock is up more than 3 times since hitting the bottom.

What about President Obama? Can following his tastes result in shareholder profits?

As Leader of the Free World, President Obama must be careful not to seem too commercial, so it's unlikely that he will overtly endorse any product. And so we have to dig a little deeper and learn from his actions.

In a recent interview, Obama was seen at the burger shop, a favorite on the menu for the president. Will we see him at Red Robin Gourmet Burger (NASDAQ: RRGB)? His mere presence there would be an implied endorsement and could send fans flocking to their own Red Robin Gourmet Burger restaurant.

Michelle Obama has made healthy eating a priority in her role as first lady. Her emphasis on the earth-to-table approach to dining emphasizes local and organic ingredients -- and fits squarely with the mission of Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI).

Obama's White House garden is great top-of-mind stuff and demonstrates the value of a healthy lifestyle. It may not be for everyone, but there will be enough followers that will think more and more about going organic.

We saw the first signs of the "Obama effect" with the hype of her inauguration gown. The designer of that stunning dress was Jason Wu.

I can imagine that many women looking to wear a stunning dress to their own special occasion might head to Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) -- which carries Wu's collection.

In this recession, department stores need all the help they can get, and selling a hot designer is a great leg up on the competition.

Unlike Talbots, Chico's (NYSE: CHS) is already chic. This retail stock doesn't need a boost from Mrs. Obama, but an endorsement wouldn't hurt either.

Its White House/Black Market stores have seen explosive growth over the past decade and seem to have the type of products that would look good in the real White House.

In the immediate aftermath of the credit crisis, shares of CHS collapsed.

If ever a brand could use a boost it's Talbots (NYSE: TLB).

This week the company announced that profits plummeted 68% to $1.6 million in the quarter ended May 3.

This conservative women's clothing store has lacked the pizzazz to capture a larger market share. Michelle Obama wearing TLB injects some much needed life into the brand.

After the election, when it was known that Mrs. Obama wore Talbots, shares bounced significantly. Previously, the stock was threatening to broach the $1 mark. Today, you can buy shares for around $5.

We all know the impact that celebrities have on businesses. One of the most obvious instances of this phenomenon comes from the Oprah Winfrey Show. For example, when a title makes it into her book club, millions of loyal followers immediately take action, and sales follow.

These days, Michelle Obama is giving Oprah a run for her money. The First Lady is being closely watched by millions, and she too has a loyal following. She also appears to have a fashion sense that resonates with consumers around the globe. We all saw the number of stories and speculation about her gown during the inauguration.

The move in Skechers USA (NYSE: SKX) from the March lows pales in comparison to the triples or more seen in some retail stocks.

That said, SKX did more than double in value before pulling back in early May. Much of that gain happened on the heels of a better-than-expected earnings report that showed the company making a small profit.

Does it make sense to buy a stock that is up 300%?

If so, I would want to be darn sure about future earnings prospects needed to support a premium valuation.

In the case of AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN), I'm not convinced that future prospects are secure.

Recently, the company announced cautious guidance suggesting that difficulties will persist through the remainder of the year. This comes in the aftermath of announcing a first quarter loss and decline in same-store sales.