DirecTV (DTV) competes with satellite pay-TV providers like Dish Network (DISH), cable companies like Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (TWC), and telecom operators like AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ). The company recently released its Q4 2010 earnings and we have updated our price estimate to $48.63 as a result of continued subscriber gains and ARPU growth both in the U.S. and Latin American businesses. Our price estimate stands at a roughly 5% premium to market price.

However, we may still be conservative in our price estimate given the traction that DirecTV is getting in the Latin American region. Below we discuss some highlights of growth for DirecTV's Latin American operations and examine the potential upside to our base forecasts.

March corn futures jumped 24.25 cents a bushel on Wednesday to $6.98. Corn contracts have risen 97% since June. You may be wondering why all this activity in the corn market in the middle of winter. The answer lies in a USDA report that said corn supplies are dangerously low. In fact, they are near the record low set 15 years ago.

What that means is that the corn stocks we have must last until our harvest starts in mid summer. Of the 12.4 billion bushels harvested last fall, we will have only 675 million bushels by Aug 31.To add more fuel to the problem, this new report is 9% lower than the USDA"s January projection, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

For investors, the emerging markets have been a great place to find profits. No doubt, there are certainly risks, such as seen recently with the market turmoil in Egypt, but a diversified portfolio should solve these problems. Of course, it also helps to have lots of exposure to markets like China and Brazil.

According to Societe Generale, emerging markets may pale in comparison to the growth in commodities. Interestingly enough, it is rising commodities prices that is putting inflationary pressure on these countries. In other words, it is getting tougher for companies to pass along higher raw materials costs. As a result, there has been a rash of interest rate increases.

Fierce weather conditions are wreaking havoc on agricultural crops around the world. The latest disaster is the cyclone hitting Australia's sugar crops. Australia is the world's third largest sugar exporter.

Raw sugar futures jumped 4% to settle at 35.31 cents per pound and traded as high as 36.11 cents as reported in the Wall Street Journal. The cyclone Yasi is one of the strongest storms to slam Australia. Losses from the storm are estimated at $505.7 million.

The storm is adding to an exceptionally poor harvest in Australia. This year's crop yielded only 3.6 million tons, the lowest in 20 years. Output from Brazil, the world's number one producer was also disappointing.

"Our advice to buy Brazil as well as our advice to buy energy stocks have rewarded those who heeded them over the last few years; given this, it stands to reason, then, that investing in Brazilian energy is eminently sensible," says Jack Adamo.

The editor of Insiders Plus explains, "Our latest buy recommendation is Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) -- or Petrobras for short.

"The reason for buying Brazil is clear: It is one of the fastest growing countries in the world and among the best of that group in terms of rule of law and honest financial markets.

Here are the next four of my 2011 picks. I am behind schedule, after publishing the first 5 earlier in the week (see: Chasing Value: 2011 Stock Picks -- 5 of 11). This year instead of starting completely anew, I am adjusting my 2010 picks. There is no sense in abandoning good ideas just because the calendar turned a page.

You will actually find support of running themes I have been writing about over the past few months. One of these is the idea of making a contrarian investment in a basket of stocks that have been both scalded and scolded in the headlines. Six stocks were included in such a group that I called the "toxic stocks" (see: Chasing Value: Toxic Stock Update #3 -- BAC, BP, C, GE, GS, RIG).

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"To find strong dividend paying stocks, we apply two primary tests; and one stock that passes both of these tests -- and ranks our as top investment idea for the coming year -- is CPFL Energia (CPL), one of Brazil's major power utilities," says income specialist Neil George.

The editor of The Pay Me Strategy explains, "I focus on stocks that will grow your retirement wealth during good times and bad.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Brazil is my favorite emerging country, and we're going to Brazil for our top pick for 2011: GOL Linhas Aereas Intelligentes (GOL)," says Ian Wyatt.

The editor of Top Stock Insights explains, "The rise of Brazil's middle class is good for airlines. And its fast growing emerging economy creates an ideal environment for discount airlines like GOL to set up shop and grow like crazy.

Sugar prices have been on a roller coaster this year. During the middle of the year, rumors were rampant that supply was tight. Prices more than doubled.

Then rumors spread that there would be a surplus of sugar this year and prices had a sharp sell off. Now the latest guesstimate is that sugar demand will exceed supply in the marketing year ending September 30. As reported in Bloomberg/Businessweek, analysts for ABN Amro and VM Group forecast that demand will reach 165.3 million metric tons, more than 3 million tons more than supply.

"Iron ore miner Vale (VALE) turned in outstanding results in the third quarter, with a 110 percent increase in revenue, thanks to a more than doubling in iron ore prices this year," notes Ian Wyatt.

The editor of Global Commodity Investing explains, "Iron ore prices, which are set quarterly, have since declined 10 percent, so the company won't rack up such impressive numbers again in this quarter. The weak dollar will also have an impact on the company's margins.

"Still, given China's continued strong expansion, as well as those of other emerging markets-and limited expected supply additions, iron ore prices are likely to remain high for some time to come.

First we had record cotton prices due to crop shortages. Now we have the same situation in the the sugar market.

The big producers of sugar are Brazil and India. Brazil dominates the market with half of the world's exports. The country has experienced a smaller-than-normal harvest. Inventories are at their lowest levels in decades. Unica, the country's cane industry association, said that production was down 30% in the first half of October from 2009, as reported by the Financial Times.

MSCI Brazil Index (EWZ) closed up $1,01 to $75.40. The Brazilian general election of 2010 will be held on Sunday, October 3. The Presidency of the Republic, all Chamber of Deputies seats, and fifty-four of the Federal Senate seats, will be contested in this election, along with all 26 states (plus the Federal District) governorships and the state legislatures.

October put option implied volatility is at 28, November is at 29, December puts are at 31. This versus its 26-week average of 31 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.