Is it time to take a bite out of Apple, Inc (AAPL) or leave it on the vine? After reviewing the current list by examining the stock yields and price-to-cash flow (P/CF) we will take a look at Apple for 2010.

Yesterday I dropped two stocks, but the list is still too long. In the coming weeks there will be more cuts and if I find anything of more value perhaps there will be something new.

Today it's time to do some trimming of the fourteen stocks and four options on the contenders list. This review will prioritize the companies by price-to-book (P/B), price-to-sales (P/S) and return-on-equity (ROE). This does not preclude more possible stocks being added and the final list will not be done until the end of the month.

We will also compare recent stock prices to three-year highs to give us a relative idea where the stock floated in rosier times.

We started this review with 25 stocks of companies noted for their quality of management and how successful they have been at nurturing new leaders as presented in Fortune magazine. After running them through a serious screening process using universally agreed upon key metrics, the list has been reduced to six candidates for potential investment.

I will reiterate that there is no imperative to invest in any of them even if they might be among the best opportunities from a select list. While I think all of the original companies listed and stocks screened are well regarded that does not mean now is the right time to invest.

Regardless of the outcome of this process, and since price and timing are critical, it would be smart to create a stock watch-list with the inclusion of all six of these companies.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported a second-quarter profit of $472.3 million, or $1.11 per share, beating analysts' estimates of $1.07 per share. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on DE.

DE opened this morning at $44.52. So far today the stock has hit a low of $44.00 and a high of $47.50. As of 11:45, DE is trading at $46.20 up 2.38 (5.4%). The chart for DE looks bullish and S&P gives DE a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Agricultural equipment icon Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) is scheduled to step into the earnings spotlight next Wednesday, August 13. Ahead of the firm's third-quarter report, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are expecting a profit of $1.37 per share. During the previous four quarters, DE has managed to meet or exceed Wall Street's expectations three times; during its second-quarter report, released in May, the company fell short by one penny per share. At the time, Deere warned that rising material costs could put a dent in third-quarter and full-year earnings.

However, it seems that some speculative investors have a short memory where Deere & Co. is concerned. Option activity on the stock is leaning distinctly bullish ahead of earnings, which could set the stage for a sharp downside move in the event of another profit miss.

The International Securities Exchange (ISE) reports that DE boasts a 10-day call/put ratio of 5.80. This data, which measures buy-to-open activity among retail-level investors, reveals that traders have purchased nearly 6 times more calls to open than puts on DE during the past couple of weeks. According to the ISE, option activity on the stock has not been more bullishly skewed at any other time during the past year. That's a rather bold optimistic bias, considering the stock has shed 28% year-to-date.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says not even the collapse of ethanol can touch the planting renaissance we're seeing.

The agriculture bull market had been linked to ethanol. Turns out that ethanol is only one piece of the puzzle. What we are seeing for everything from fertilizer to farm equipment to seeds is that there are so many uses and calls on crops that we are having a planting renaissance that hasn't been seen in years.

We have an amazing moment in ag: we are supply-constrained for everything. Fertilizer demand is far exceeding supply, so you get an Agrium (NYSE: AGU) (Cramer's Take) buying a UAP (NASDAQ: UAPH) (Cramer's Take) -- and Agrium goes up.

Fewer players, tighter supply, no new plants coming on to speak of -- this is an amazing moment.