Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support. And with the above in mind, Boeing is worth an evaluation.

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is the world's largest aerospace company.

In general, analysts expect 3-5% revenue growth in FY 2008, and 7-10% in FY 2009 as Boeing's increased aircraft production to meet high order backlogs offsets production delays in the 787 Dreamliner.

Moreover, although not to give short-shrift to Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division, now the world's second-largest military contractor, behind Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), the major driver of BA's future value-added will continue to be its commercial aviation operation, led by the next-generation 787 Dreamliner.

eResearchTechnology (NASDAQ: ERES) provides technology and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The company streamlines the clinical trials process by enabling customers to automate the collection, analysis and distribution of data in all phases of clinical development. The firm's flagship product, EXPeRT, processes and interprets electrocardiogram data collected during trials, to insure cardiac safety. eResearchTechnology operates in the US and the UK.

The firm pleased investors earlier in the week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 11 cents and revenues of $33.7 million. Wall Street analysts had been looking for nine cents and $31.6 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 10-12 cents (ten cent Street), Q2 revenues to $34-$36 million ($32.95M Street), FY08 EPS to 44-49 cents (44 cent Street) and FY08 revenues to $133-$140 million ($134.99M Street). Friedman Billings subsequently reiterated its "outperform" rating on the shares and boosted its price target to $18.

"A new era could be dawning in Taiwan," says Asia region expert Keith Fitz-Gerald. Here, the editor of The New China Trader looks at an ETF and a mutual fund favorite to benefit from this forecast.

"While there were many reasons we recommended investing in Taiwan, perhaps the single most important was the potential for Taiwan to assume its role as 'China's real beneficiary.'

"We have been reasoning that President-elect Ma Ying-jeou would be far more interested in working with China than antagonizing it, as his predecessor did. We have also suggested that he would 'get on it' sooner rather than later by making relations with China a top priority.

"Indeed, Vice President-elect, Vincent Siew has already 'unofficially' met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines at the Boao Forum for Asia. While it's too early to pass judgment, it could set the stage for a new era based on the friendly nature of the meeting according to observers.

"It could also set the stage for a longer-term pan-Asian economic boom. That would be great for the region but especially China and Taiwan, which have had bone-chillingly cold relations for years.

"For China, a fresh start is important because it would allow Beijing to demonstrate peaceful intentions at a time when Tibet and the Summer Olympics have become a lightning rod for all things Chinese.

"For Taiwan, a thawing would lead to new economic development and, we think, previously unheard of levels of business interaction. It would also potentially carry huge trade volumes and stability into the surrounding countries.

"And that's why we reiterate that you buy iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (ASE: EWT) as well as U.S. Investors China Regional Opportunity Fund (USCOX)."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Airgas Inc. (NYSE: ARG) is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial gases, medical gases, specialty gases and welding equipment. The firm is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than 14,000 employees work at over 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers.

The firm surprised investors earlier in the week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 78 cents and revenues of $1.09 billion. Analysts had been looking for 73 cents and $1.07 billion. The CEO noted that strategic product categories (healthcare, research, environmental, food & beverage) posted 11% organic growth in the quarter. The EPS figure was a company record. Management also guided Q1 EPS to 79-81 cents (74 cent consensus) and FY09 EPS to $3.24-$3.40 ($3.10 consensus).

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) announced its same-store sales results for the month of April Thursday, and the data indicate a healthy fast-food business ("healthy fast food" -- isn't that an oxymoron?).

Global comps as a whole increased 5%. Comps for European locations increased 6.3%, and the Asia/Pacific/Middle East/Africa segment saw a 7.8% rise in same-store sales. McDonald's restaurants in the States increased an anemic 2%. The weak domestic sales really need to be addressed so that they can pull more weight and add to the cool story that is McDonald's.

The stock has been a pretty decent performer over the last several months, rising over 6% over the three-month timeframe, and over the one-month period, it is up over 7%. And the longer-period returns from the past are even more impressive. Imagine how McDonald's stock would perform if management figured out how to get people to visit the U.S.'s Golden Arches more often. I suppose April's performance should be praised since March saw a decline in U.S. comps, as this article makes plain, but that depreciation was the first one in five years, and that says to me that McDonald's needs to be careful.

It's all about the marketing, of course. There are a lot of choices out there -- Burger King (NYSE: BKC), Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) -- so I think promotion of the brand is key. Some will disagree and say that menus and pricing are the big drivers -- they are important, don't get me wrong, but perhaps McDonald's needs to take a cue from Burger King and its campaign with the creepy-king thing -- those commercials are clever. Still, if this comps reports says anything, it says that you shouldn't count the clown out -- McDonald's is a blue-chip stock that is near a 52-week high, and not only is it a great long-term/core holding, but it's also quite possibly an interesting shorter-term idea as well.

Disclosure: I don't own shares in any company mentioned here; positions can change at any time.

During Thursday's trading, Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) hit an all-time high of $78.75 and closed at $77.62. Anadarko was one of my first recommendations after I started writing for BloggingStocks, and is nearing 100% appreciation from the $40 price tag it had when we acquired it.

The 10-year chart below indicates the strong long-term performance of Anadarko, rising about 500% and paying dividends to boot. I cannot say the stock is a bargain at recent highs, but I can emphatically state that this company belongs on your watch list.

Readers of this space know that one of the preferred sectors has been the oil/oil services sector. Further, with oil now well above $110 per barrel, one may think that all of the affordable oil plays have been bid up. Indeed, most have, but not Chevron.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is the third-largest integrated oil company in the United States.

Chevron's organic reserve replacement, excluding Canadian oil sands, is sub-par, but just about every other dimension of CVX's operation rates good to strong.

Chevron's most attractive dimension? CVX has the equivalent of 'the facilities of significance' in an oil-challenged world, and especially in a gasoline-challenged United States: 22 fuel refineries, to go along with 2 asphalt plants, for a total refining capacity of 2.21 million barrels per day. Almost half of that fuel refining is based in the United States.

With the U.S. economy still exhibiting signs of anemic growth (or worse), it's best to consider including a few defensive stocks in your portfolio, and with the aforementioned in mind, General Mills is worth an evaluation.

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) is the second largest U.S. producer of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, including several iconic brands, and is a leading producer of other packaged consumer foods.

Most analysts see GIS's FY 2008 revenue advancing 6-8%, followed by a 7-10% rise in FY 2009.

Analysts also like the fact General Mills has braced itself for the higher-cost commodity era as a result of efficiency improvements, productivity gains, and a more-favorable product mix. The Reuters FY 2008/FY 2009 EPS consensus estimates for GIS are $3.48 to $3.78.

Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR) offers North American and U.K. retailers a range of storefront service and entertainment devices. These include coin counters, kiddie rides, bulk vending machines, skill-crane games and point-of-sale terminals. The firm also provides self-service DVD movie rental/purchase kiosks and provides money transfer services, prepaid wireless products, stored value cards, payroll cards and prepaid debit cards. Coinstar products and services are distributed through more than 53,000 retail stores. Corporate clients include Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Walgreen (NYSE: WAG).

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 18 cents and revenues of $190.5 million. Analysts had been expecting four cents and $182.7 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 8-15 cents (12 cent consensus), Q2 revenues to $200-$210 million ($202.19M consensus), FY08 EPS to 60-75 cents (57 cent consensus) and FY08 revenues to $850-$900 million ($829.83M consensus). DA Davidson subsequently upgraded the stock to "buy".

"Oil prices have made the headlines recently," says Martin Hutchinson in The Money Map Reporter. "But the miracle fuel of the 19th Century is coal, the forgotten fossil fuel."

"Coal is located primarily in politically stable, friendly countries - most notably the U.S. market itself. Coal prices have zoomed northward during the past year. The current spot price is around $135 per metric ton, more than double the level of a year ago. Meanwhile, coal production is running way ahead of forecasts.

"In 2005, the World Coal Institute reported production of 4,970 million metric tons, up 78% over 25 years. The main reason for coal's growth is that 80% of China's power needs and 65% of India's come from coal-fired stations.

"Since both India and China are expected to quadruple their power consumption by 2030, most of that increase must come from coal-fired stations. What are the best buys in the sector?

Amkor Technology (NASDAQ: AMKR) is a leading provider of semiconductor assembly and test services. The firm offers semiconductor companies and electronics manufacturers a complete set of microelectronics manufacturing services, including die bonding, wire bonding, chip encapsulation, and verification of function, current, timing, and voltage. Clients include IBM (NYSE: IBM), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN).

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 36 cents and revenues of $699.5 million. Analysts had been looking for 26 cents and $684.3 million. The CEO attributed success to customer demand for wireless communications and networking applications. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 32-36 cents (28 cent consensus) and Q2 revenues to about $706-$720 million ($700.6M consensus).

David Fried is a leading authority on corporate buybacks, focused exclusively on companies that are involved in repurchasing their own shares.

One of the latest 'buys' in his aptly-named The Buyback Letter, is consulting and outsourcing firm Accenture (NYSE: ACN). Here's the advisor's review.

"Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, collaborating with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.

"They use industry knowledge, expertise and technological capabilities to help worldwide clients enter new markets, increase revenues in existing markets, improve operational performance and deliver their products and services more effectively and efficiently.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the exchange rate plus massive undervaluations make the great brands prime targets.

There's always been a groupthink in Europe about currencies. The companies that want to buy American companies have, at times, seemed to care more about the currency, or at least not buying a company in a country whose currency is in decline, than they care about the actual target.

That's what it looks like now that a large German company and now a large Italian company have decided to start splurging. It is no coincidence that Deutsche Tel (NYSE: DT) (Cramer's Take) and Finmeccanica are exploring Sprint (NYSE: S) (Cramer's Take) and DRS (NYSE: DRS) (Cramer's Take). These companies are selling for something like 40% off for those bearing euros, and neither potential acquirer has debt problems or subprime issues, so the deals don't have big borrowing problems.

That's what I am thinking about when I see the better-than-expected figures today from Unilever (NYSE: UL) (Cramer's Take) and the other day from Nestle. These companies are part of that same groupthink. They are looking, no doubt, at a Heinz (NYSE: HNZ) (Cramer's Take) and thinking, "Wait, that's about a $10 billion company that's a global leader."

Readers of this space know that my investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models that have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support. And with the aforementioned in mind, Caterpillar is worth a review.

Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is the world's No. 1 manufacturer in earth moving equipment and a leader in construction/agricultural equipment.

In general, analysts see CAT's 2008 revenue increasing 7-10% on strong international growth; North American revenue is expected to be flat.

Analysts also like the fact that Caterpillar is well-positioned to secure new business in emerging market economies for construction, infrastructure and land development work.

Meanwhile, raw material / core component costs are expected to continue to rise, limiting margin growth. The Reuters F2008/F2009 EPS consensus estimates for CAT are $6.02/$6.77.

Panera Bread Company (NASDAQ: PNRA) owns and franchises some 1,200 bakery-cafes, operating under the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread banners in 40 states. The stores offer specialty baked goods, made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads and custom roasted coffees. They also provide free WiFi Internet access. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) is a major competitor.

The company pleased investors last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 47 cents and revenues of $305 million. Analysts had been expecting 39 cents and $302.8 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to 40-44 cents (39 cent consensus) and FY08 EPS to $2.00-$2.11 ($2.02 consensus). The press release noted, "Company-owned comparable stores sales growth is targeted at 4% to 5% for the year, with approximately 5% of retail pricing expected."