"Our goal is helping investors grow their capital and income base from which to derive cash for their current and future needs," notes dividend expert Kelley Wright.

The editor of Investment Quality Trends explains, "To that end we believe that high-quality stocks purchased at historically low-price-to-high-yield offers the best potential for downside protection and upside appreciation. Our Timely Ten list represents our current top ideas.

I first wrote about PepsiCo (PEP) on March 13, 2009, at a price of $48.62. The stock continued to meander near $65 during the winter, but I still like the business model at this stage. Here's why:

In 2011, Pepsi's revenue will likely increase about 4% to 6%, aided by the acquisition of bottlers Pepsi Bottling Co. and PepsiAmericas. PEP should register a 5% to 8% revenue gain for 2011.

"What's safe and cheap in today's market? Food stocks top our buy list this month," suggests leading value advisor Richard Band.

The editor of Profitable Investing explains, "Here are two of my favorite buys, each with the potential to rack up a total return (price gain plus dividends) of at least 15% in the coming year: Nestle (NSRGY) and PepsiCo (PEP).

PepsiCo (PEP) is the world's second largest carbonated soft drink manufacturer and the largest packaged foods product manufacturer. PepsiCo's beverage division competes with Coca-Cola (KO) in virtually all subsegments of the beverage market. PepsiCo is best known for its namesake soft drink brand as well as its Frito Lay products (including Doritos and Cheetos).

We estimate that Pepsi brand operations constitute about 7% of the company's stock value, while Frito Lay products generate a more substantial 42%. Our price estimate for PepsiCo stock is $67.28, which is slightly ahead of the current market price. The company's healthy food products or its nutrition business, which includes our Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker Foods divisions together constitute around 31% of our price estimate.

PepsicCo (PEP) is in the red at the time of this writing. Investors weren't dazzled by the beverage entity's latest earnings report, I guess. I see a quote of $63.16 on my screen; this means that the shares are off by about 2%. Volume is heavy.

According to the Associated Press, fourth-quarter profit on a reported basis went down five pennies to 85 cents per share. Not good to hear, but here's something that will put shareholders in a happier mood: on an adjusted basis, profit calculated out to $1.05 per share, a figure that was one penny ahead of the overall projection.

Things look to be pretty quiet on the economic calendar this week. Here are the highlights:

• Tuesday: Weekly chain-store sales
• Wednesday: Federal budget balance for January
• Thursday: Wholesale trade data in December
• Friday: Trade balance in December and the weekly inflation survey

However, three iconic companies -- Walt Disney (DIS), Coca-Cola (KO) and Hasbro (HAS) -- highlight this week's quarterly results. Here's a look at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating from these and others.

Teams have been preparing their game plans and it's time to see which of the 60 teams will win. No, not the Packers or Steelers -- Go Pack! -- but PepsiCo (PEP), Anheuser-Busch (BUD), General Motors (GM) and all the other companies competing for the best spots in one of TV's most expensive marketing moments, costing an estimated $3 million dollars per 30 second spot.

For those not into football, the ads in the Super Bowl game can be more amusing than the game itself as advertising teams compete for attention, show their best efforts and even get rated by numerous online sites. Last year, Doritos (owned by PepsiCo), and E-Trade (ETFC) did well, and Anheuser-Busch seems to always have a Clydesdale horse in the running.

PepsiCo, Inc.'s (PEP) shares, first written about here on March 13, 2009, at a price of $48.62, have exhibited sideways action in the past three months, but I still like the shares at this stage.

Also, as noted earlier, if you're in near $48, feel free to consider taking some profits off the table with PEP.

Those investors can who tolerate the risk can maintain their full position and go for a larger gain, but keep in mind the journey to $80 probably will not be completed in 2011.

Sara Lee (SLE) has rejected an offer from a group of private-equity firms that includes Bain Capital, Apollo Management and TPG Capital, the New York Post reports. Overall option implied volatility of 20 is below its 26-week average of 24, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

PepsiCo (PEP) is expected to report Q4 EPS on February 10. Overall option implied volatility of 17 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional near-term price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Barron's is forecasting a 10% rise in stock prices in 2011 led by big cap stocks. They argue that the big caps have lagged the market for the past decade and are now poised to take the lead, as reported by CNBC.com.

Here are their top ten picks for this year: Exxon Mobil (XOM), Walmart (WMT), Pfizer (PFE), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), General Motors (GM), Cisco Systems (CSCO), United Continental Holdings (UAL), Barrack Gold (ABX), Entergy (ETR), and PepsiCo (PEP).

Analyst Upgrades

• Sprint (S) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Cree (CREE) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Brocade (BRCD) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• JPMorgan upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (WX) to overweight from neutral.
• Barclays upgraded ITC Holdings (ITC) to overweight from equal weight.
• Centene (CNC) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at Oppenheimer.
• Senior Housing (SNH) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• UBS upgraded Hovnanian (HOV) to neutral from sell.
• GeoResources (GEOI) was upgraded to accumulate from neutral at Madison Williams.
• Compellent (CML) was upgraded to hold from sell at Canaccord.