"My mantra for investing in this dicey market is to focus on three non-negotiable demands: very solid balance sheet; large, installed customer base; steady cash flows; and dividends," says Jack Adamo.

In his Insiders Plus newsletter he looks at a technology stock that meets his criteria: Sybase (NYSE: SY). He notes, "Overall, this is a company I'm comfortable owning, even in a bad ongoing recession."

The advisor explains, "Sybase is an industry leader in software to manage, analyze and distribute information in the most data-intensive enterprises, such as financial services, telecoms, manufacturing and government.

"To put it concisely: It manages data and makes it available to the many different devices that use it, across the myriad communication protocols that must be traversed to accomplish that.

"Generic drug mak Teva Pharmaceutical, Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) delivered respectable earnings results," says Jack Adamo, who added the stock his Insiders Plus model portfolio.

"The company's earnings were up 4% on a proforma non-GAAP basis. In this case, that's the correct measurement. Net GAAP earnings were up tremendously, but aren't really representative of normal business factors.

"Although Teva gets much of its earnings from its proprietary multiple sclerosis drug, Copaxone, its primary business is generic drugs. That segment is inherently lumpy because profitability is greatly affected by which generic drugs it brings to market before any other generic company.

"Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU), the largest private market coal firm in the world, had a great 2008," says Jack Adamo who has recently added the stock to the buy list of Insiders Plus.

"Peabody has extensive holdings in the U.S. and Australia, the latter serving the China/Asia Pacific markets. It sells steam coal for heating and utility use, and coking coal for steel making.

"Peabody has had some decent iInsider buying in the last few months -- about 30,000 shares -- not enough to get too excited about, but encouraging. There were also 27,000 options exercised, most of it at very low prices, for which the holder took no profits.

"That's also a good sign, particularly since those exercises come with a tax bill, and shares weren't sold to pay it. It implies faith the stock will rise.

"Although I'm very leery of the market now, I'll continue to buy gradually when specific stocks are attractive," says Jack Adamo. In Insiders Plus, he looks to a new idea: Avon Products (NYSE: AVP).

"Avon's stock got whacked when fellow paint sellers, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden, guided earnings lower, and analysts lowered earnings expectations for Avon to about $1.90 for 2009.

"They're probably still too optimistic, but I'm buying the stock anyway. We owned Avon for almost 3 years, and sold it for $43.47 in September for a 69% profit.

Jack Adamo has been a bull on U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and is now recommending doubling the position that he holds in his model portfolio. Here's the latest from his Insiders Plus newsletter.

"US Bancorp is accepting $6.6 billion in new capital from the TARP program. Tier One capital will rise from 8.5% to 11.4% as a result of the new deal.

"The company will issue preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury at an annual rate of 5% for five years, increasing to 9% per year thereafter if the company has not redeemed the shares. I doubt they'll go unredeemed.

"The Treasury Department would also receive 10-year warrants entitling it to buy common stock of U.S. Bancorp with a value equal to 15% of the amount of the preferred stock issuance.

"With Tier One capital already at 8.5%, USB obviously didn't need the Fed infusion. It said it saw it as a good opportunity to get cheap capital with which to take advantage of any acquisition opportunities. I agree with that.

"Those terms are very good. Compare them to the arm-twisting terms some companies have paid, e.g., the 10%, plus warrants, that Buffett charged GE. Incidentally, Buffett added 3 million shares of USB to his holding in Q3.

"I said about 18 months ago, before the market carnage started, that U.S. Bancorp was the single stock that I felt most comfortable with. That hasn't changed.

"With a dividend of 6.5%, a great balance sheet, and opportunities to take business from weaker banks in the years ahead, this is a truly safe place to put money for solid total returns for years to come."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

"The financial sector got a boost after our Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), a buy recommendation in our model income portfolio, reported better-than-expected earnings," notes Jack Adamo.

The editor of Insiders Plus, explains, " While Wells, like virtually every other bank, is dragging its heels a bit on recognizing losses on bad mortgages, there were elements of the report that were unquestionably great.

"In its latest quarterly report, Wells Fargo reported:

• Revenues were up 16% year-over-year.
• Average loans were up 18% year-over-year.
• Net interest margin was 4.92%, up 23 basis points from Q1
• Net interest income increased 21% year-over-year.

"The fact that Wells is one of the few banks that is still well-capitalized enough to write loans was a large contributor to its increase in revenues.

Leading advisor Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus, reports that a Goldman Sachs analyst has chosen one of the stocks on his newsletter's buy list -- ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) -- as his top pick in the energy sector.

"There was an extremely interesting piece recently in Barron's by the oil analyst at Goldman Sachs who predicted $100 oil back in late 2004. We'd been buying energy stocks for almost a year at that point, but, although I expected oil prices to rise, I had no idea they'd go this high.

"In any case, the analyst, whose name is Arjun Murti, said he expects oil to reach $150 to $200 sometime within the next 24 months. The low end of that range is only a Middle East incident away, but the high end still seems like a reach, especially given weakening economic conditions.

"With its CEO recently buying $10 million of shares, PepsiAmericas Inc. (NYSE: PAS) has to be considered one of the most credible Insider stories in quite some time," notes Jack Adamo.

Here, in his Insiders Plus newsletter, the advisor -- who specializes in assessing situations in which corporate insiders are purchasing stock -- he looks at the world's second-largest Pepsi bottler.

"When I was a kid, a Pepsi was a dime; today, it's about $1.50 for the same size bottle. So, forgive me if I laugh myself silly when analysts say Pepsi bottlers are in trouble due to cost inflation.

"The price of the product has gone up at a compound annual rate of 5.6% per year for 50 years. Is this year going to kill it? I think not. Nor does CEO, Rober Pohlad whose recent purchase was done through a family-owned holding company.

"It was not a huge buy in relation to his holdings -- it increased his stake in the company from 9.6% to 9.9% -- but $10 million is $10 million. Do that a few times, and pretty soon it starts adding up to real money. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

"The stock has fallen this year from $36 to $26, which is about where he made his recent buys. After a blowout 2007, the company guided down expectations for 2008, citing economic weakness. The stock quickly tanked.

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.

"A top speculative idea for 2008 is Calgary-based Penn West Energy Trust (NYSE: PWE)," says Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus. "We would consider this stock a 'smart money' buy.

"Commodities guru Jim Rogers said four years ago that energy prices would go a lot higher and stay there longer than anyone supposed. We believed him, and loaded up on energy, with spectacular results. We're up 45% this year alone.

"The thesis still stands. Within five years Mexico, our second largest oil supplier, will be a net importer of oil. Prices will remain high.

"Penn West Energy Trust is out of favor because Canadian tax laws change in 2009, and it faces corporate taxes. But with the units currently yielding 15%, even a few quarters of lower payouts in a recession, and a 30% tax bite in 2009, the units will still yield near 10%.

"With its long-lived reserves, the company has good growth prospects to boot. Great for current income or long-term total return. Buy up to $33.50."

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.

"Want to take advantage of the subprime debacle, but you're too frightened or don't know how?" asks Jack Adamo in his Insiders Plus. "The ultimate insider, Warren Buffett, does.

"Every time the market has a sector meltdown, the Wizard of Omaha swoops down like a hawk and picks off great bargains. He made tons of money for Berkshire Hathaway B (NYSE: BRK.b) investors after the tech crash by buying 'junk bonds' of strong telecom companies he knew would survive -- and tech isn't even an area Buffett knows well.

"Financial stocks are his sweet spot. He'll snatch up great bargains in distressed securities in the next few quarters.

"Then, in 2008 or 2009, the company will deliver fabulous earnings, and the stock price will shoot up again. Buy Berkshire-Hathaway Class-B, preferably on pullbacks below $4,200. Don't let the price scare you. The shares are cheap on a P/E or price/earnings-to-growth basis. I consider the stock a top conservative buy for 2008."

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.

Lloyds TSB Group PLC (NYSE: LYG) is a favorite conservative stock idea for 2007 from Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus.

"While it is not the Lloyd's of London of specialty insurance fame," points out Adamo, "this London-based financial services powerhouse has roots dating back to 1765, and operates in three segments: U.K. retail banking; insurance and investments; and wholesale and international banking. It also provides brokerage, asset management, and pension services.

"It's not exactly exciting, but I think it will noticeably outpace the market in 2007. What it has going for it is financial clout, with a $60 billion market capitalization and a current dividend yield of 5.7%. Growth in earnings is expected to come in around 12.5% from 2006 to 2007.

"Lloyds currently trades for 11.25 times expected 2007 EPS of $3.86 per share. I look for total return to come in at around 18% in 2007. Lloyds' high yield provides cover in a down market, and may add extra price appreciation as investors go for yield in a falling market. That could push total return to the 25% range.

"Another significant factor in its favor to consider is the likely appreciation of the British pound sterling against the U.S. dollar, which will provide a boost to returns for U.S. investors."