Buying only stocks announcing splits, Neil Macneale has developed a leading long-term track record. His latest buy in his 2-for-1 newsletter is biotechnology research products firm Invitrogen (NASDAQ: IVGN).

"Wow, investing today is like riding a ping-pong ball; last month I was feeling quite glum about the market and cautioned that we were in for an extended period of below normal portfolio growth.

"That may still be true, but now, as we go to press, the portfolio is at its all-time high and there is reason to believe most stocks we have picked are going to do much better than the overall market.

"Meanwhile, with splits so few and far between these days, one thing is certain; companies that do announce splits deserve a very close look. Our latest selection is Invitrogen. Its primary business is assembling and selling kits used in biotech research.

"I view this as selling the shovels and tents to the gold miners. During the California gold rush, it was the storekeepers that got rich while most of the miners went broke.

"IVGN is not ideal in that it pays no dividend and carries a moderate amount of debt. However, this is a strong business with a history of good earnings and good growth. The healthcare sector has been on the outs for a while now and it's probably a good time to get a biotech company into the portfolio."

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

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.

"Rofin-Sinar Technologies (NASDAQ: RSTI) is my top speculative pick for 2008," says Neil Macneale, editor of 2-for-1, a newsletter that chooses its portfolio candidates exclusively from stocks that have just announced splits.

"Rofin-Sinar is a cross between an old line manufacturer and a high-tech 'new economy' company. It manufactures lasers used by other manufacturers to weld, cut, and mark various materials.

"Rofin has been in business for 30 years and is a world leader in industrial laser technology. Growth has been steady and significant over the last five years. Earnings have increased an average of 52% a year for five years and justify the above average P/E ratio of 26.5.

"RSTI pays no dividend and has volatility over twice the average for listed companies, so the stock wouldn't be recommended for the 2-for-1 portfolio, but this is a strong business and I see the possibilities for significant outperformance over the next few years."

Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Neil Macneale, editor of 2 for 1 (a newsletter focused exclusively on stocks that have announced stock splits), chose two stocks in the Top Picks for 2007 report, and both picks qualified him for our Top 20 Advisors. His previous selections were Chaparrel Steel Co. (NASDAQ: CHAP) and Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD).

As of June 1, 2007, Steel Dynamics has risen 49%. while Chapparel had scored a gain of 67%. Here is Neil's original recommendation for these issues.

Updating his outlook on these steel stock, he now says, "This rate of return cannot continue forever, but there is every reason to believe these remain good stocks to own.

"Steel should continue to perform, given the strength of the economy, even without a strong housing market. As the housing market improves, steel should get even stronger. In both cases, fundamentals for these companies remain strong and the stocks still sell at a discount to their peers."

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.

Stock split expert Neil Macneale looks to the steel industry for both of his picks for 2007; Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD) is his top conservative investment while Chaparral Steel (NASDAQ: CHAP) gets the nod as his favorite speculation.

The editor of 2-for-1 explains, "As a group, stocks that have split have been found to outperform the market and, by investing only in splits, the portfolio is exploiting that anomaly. Our model portfolio is 'laddered' by buying and selling one stock each month, thus keeping the portfolio constantly at 30 stocks.

"Several steel companies and mining companies have announced splits in the recent months. Steel is historically a cyclical business, but the U.S. economy is strong at the moment, and should only get stronger as the housing sector recovers.

"In addition, U.S. steel companies now have pricing power they haven't enjoyed for decades, due to demand in Asia for their own locally produced steel. For these reasons steel, in general, should have a good run for the next year or two, and two companies, in particular, are well positioned to lead the pack.