Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Canadian Oil Sands Trust (TSX: COS.UN) is the top conservative buy for 2007 from international investing expert Vivian Lewis. The editor of Global Investing notes, "Canada recently slapped surprise taxes on income trusts. Nevertheless, we think oil sands will also be a good idea even if not exempt from taxes on dividends.

"The main reason is that the dividends are pretty meager. COS pays 2.7%. This is not going to cause a sell-off in the share, even if the dividend is cut in 2011. The trust, however, dropped 10% in what I consider a mistaken reaction to the tax news.

"Meanwhile, Canadian Oil Sands Trust saw third quarter volumes and sales prices rise, which partly offset higher royalties paid, while net fell 27%. The dividend is 30 cents per unit. The stock is up 41%, including dividends, over the past year.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Vivian Lewis trusts in tars sands

Top Picks 2007: Vivian Lewis trusts in tars sands originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.