"You can invest for all the right reasons and still get the wrong result," notes long-standing turnaround stock expert George Putnam, referring to the poor performance of the pharmaceutical sector in recent years.

Here, in his industry-leading The Turnaround Letter, he offers a fascinating review of 10 leading drug stocks which he now believes offer a combination of growth potential at "pretty cheap" valuations. Here is his overview.

"In 2000 and 2001, when the Internet boom was becoming a bust, many smart investors turned away from technology stocks and put their money into drug stocks. How could you go wrong with the big pharmaceutical companies?

"Demand for their products was growing as the population aged. These companies had huge research
and development programs that seemed to keep cranking out new blockbuster drugs. And most of them had great balance sheets, with many paying handsome dividends.

"Much of this reasoning has been borne out in the intervening years. Many large drug manufacturers have rung up substantial revenue gains over the last decade. So what's happened to the big drug stocks? With few exceptions they have gone sideways or down – in some cases down a lot.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My favorite conservative idea for 2008, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), is a leading player in several growing health care markets, offering a wide range of prescription pharmaceuticals, nutritional and diagnostic products, and medical devices," says Jim Stack, money manager and editor of InvesTech Market Analyst.

"The company has a long history of stable sales and earnings growth fostered by its strong research and development program, acquisitions and global expansion. As a defensive health care play, we particularly like the diversification this company provides.

"It derives nearly 30% of profits from overseas markets, while pharmaceuticals account for 44% of sales, hospital products 20%, nutritional products 18% and diagnostics 15%.

"Currently, Abbott is enjoying double-digit sales growth in three of these four major divisions, and we expect this strength to continue at least through 2008. The company is a bright spot in the drug industry, which has been plagued in recent years by patent expirations and meager product pipelines.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) will not sell its primary in-vitro and point-of-care diagnostics businesses to General Electric (NYSE: GE) as planned, both companies say, due to a disagreement on the final terms of the $8.13 billion proposal.

Despite being approved by regulators in the U.S. and Europe, GE says that it was in both of their best interests to terminate it. The move would have given GE its first entry into the laboratory testing space.

The Wall Street Journal believes that the breakup may have been related to the continued regulatory problems at Abbott's Irving, TX, manufacturing facility. The unit has been problematic for Abbott, with $100 million in fines back in 1999. The FDA called Abbott's devices "adulterated" and "misbranded," which could have made GE nervous about taking on regulatory issues.

Some analysts say the deal's failure is a good thing because they think GE was overpaying. "Health care," says JP Morgan's Stephen Tusa in the Journal, "is still a place that we want to see them invest."

Abbott said the decision to cancel the contract would have no impact on their previously issued second-quarter or full-year guidance, excluding specified items. JP Morgan told investors this morning to buy shares of Abbott on the weakness from the news, saying that while the break-up is a setback, the company's broader plan is still intact.

Summer Street Research believes the lack of a deal between GE and Abbott could fuel speculation that one of them may now be interested in pursuing Ventana Medical Systems (NASDAQ: VMSI), the medical equipment supplier that recently rejected a $3 billion hostile offer from Roche Holding Ag (OTC: RHHBY).

One of the world's largest companies, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), will be acquiring some of the medical diagnostics business of Abbott Laboratories for $8.13 billion in cash, according to both companies as as late last week.

What does this move give GE? It will deeply increase the importance GE has been placing recently on its health care business, which right now is pegged at a $16 billion figure for GE annually.

GE CEO Jeff Immelt said the acquisition is "consistent with GE's strategy to invest in high-technology global infrastructure businesses that deliver strong top-line growth, earnings expansion and expanded margins." Easy enough said.

Abbott's partial sale to GE will net the company about $6 billion in after-tax cash according to the company, which will use the money primarily to pay down debt and supplement share repurchases.