Health care has long been considered a recession-resistant business. Given the current economic challenges, it's little surprise that in our survey of favorite stocks for the coming year, a number of leading advisors turned to this classic defensive sector.

In this year's Top Stock Picks from 75 advisors report, we found an intriguing group of medical-related stocks, from speculation in emerging biotech to well-established pharmaceutical firms, and from medical products makers to medical services firms focused on increasing health care efficiency and early disease detection.

Mike Cintolo, editor of The Cabot Market Letter, thinks Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) could be a "big winner in 2009," The company is a lead in the new field of cancer predisposition testing. For Mike's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Myriad Genetics.

Chuck Carlson, editor of The DRIP Investor, sees both quality and potential in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). For Chuck's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Continue reading Drug and health care stocks: The right prescription for 2009

Drug and health care stocks: The right prescription for 2009 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sy Harding, long-known for his work in cycle analysis, takes a look at the history of Presidential Election Cycle and what this portends for the next few years.

Interestingly, he explains how and why this cycle will impact the direction of the stock market in coming years regardless of which candidate becomes the country's next President. Here's his long-term assessment from his Street Smart Investing.

"As Paul Harvey once said, 'In times like these it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.' Yet the world hardly ever comes to an end. The future arrives. The cycles continue. Sunny weather still follows stormy weather, winter still follows summer, spring still follows winter -- every time.

"For investors there's nothing more important than recognizing that business, the economy, and markets also move in cycles, not endless straight lines. Recessions follow boom times, bear markets follow bull markets, bull markets follow bear markets -- every time.

"There are two cycles, one of intermediate-term duration, the other longer-term, which can be of significant importance to investors. The first is the annual seasonal cycle.

Continue reading Presidental stock market cycle picks no favorites

Presidental stock market cycle picks no favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Gloom is thick enough to cut with a knife," says market historian and seasonal timing expert Sy Harding, whose timing system has just triggered a new intermediate-term buy signal on stocks. Here, in his Street Smart Report, the contrarian explains why he believes we are now near a market low.

He also looks at four new ETF index positions he has established in his portfolio. "The slowdown continues. Foreclosures soar. Debt problems are spreading to corporate and credit card loans. The housing collapse continues. The problems are affecting employment.

"And of course the credit crunch continues. Gasoline hit a record high $3.26 a gallon last week. Consumer confidence, and corporate CEO confidence is at multi-year lows regarding the economy.

"The gloom and doom has spread from financial publications to local newspapers and magazines, now featuring stories of layoffs and local plant closings, local small businesses suffering, comparisons to previous bad times, even occasionally to the Great Depression.

"Is the gloom thick enough? Are other conditions in place indicating we are near a market low? Here's why we think so:

Continue reading Contrarian turns bullish on market 'gloom'

Contrarian turns bullish on market 'gloom' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his Street Smart Report, market historian and seasonal timing expert Sy Harding takes an in-depth look at the economic outlook, explaining the Fed's concerns over inflation and potential stagflation.

"Investors in their thirties and forties often don't understand why the Federal Reserve sometimes becomes very worried about inflation.

"Their experience has been that, sure, the price of most everything rises over the long-term. But so what? They now pay $30,000 for automobiles their parents paid $10,000 for, and their grandparents bought for $2,000. Homes that sold for $50,000 in a previous generation now sell for $250,000.

"But their income has grown even faster, so their standard of living is significantly higher than it would have been fifty years ago. So what's to worry about inflation?

Continue reading As inflation rises, is stagflation next?

As inflation rises, is stagflation next? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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 Stocks Report.

Cedar Fair, LP (NYSE: FUN) is the top conservative stock pick for 2007 from Sy Harding, editor of Street Smart Report. He explains, "With its recent $1.2 billion acquisition of Paramount Parks from CBS Corp., Cedar Fair now operates 17 popular regional theme parks, and five water parks, in 13 states in the U.S. and one province of Canada.

"Cedar Fair is noted for exciting rides, with roller coaster enthusiasts traveling the Cedar Fair circuit on a regular basis to check out the latest offerings. For instance, its Cedar Point Park in Ohio now offers 65 rides and 16 roller coasters, including Top Thrill Dragster, the world's tallest and fastest coaster, and Millennium Force, the world's top-rated coaster for thrills.

"Thrill rides for the brave, water slides, wave action pools, and the like, are only a portion of the magnetism for customers. The parks are family oriented, with attractions for smaller children themed around the 'Peanuts' comic strip characters, and a variety of upscale hotels and restaurants for parents.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Fun at the fair with Sy Harding

Top Picks 2007: Fun at the fair with Sy Harding originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

ASA Bermuda Ltd. (NYSE: ASA), a precious metals closed-end investment company, is the favorite speculation for 2007 from Sy Harding. The editor of StreetSmart Reports explains, "Its by-laws require that it have at least 80% of its investments in the stocks of gold, silver, platinum, or diamond mining companies.

"Its holdings at year-end 2006 were approximately 70% in gold mining companies, with its largest holdings including Gold Fields Ltd., AngloGold Ashanti, and Barrick Gold. The balance of its assets are in other natural resource stocks including Anglo Platinum, Anglo American PLC, and Impala Platinum.

"We expect the bull market in gold and precious metals, which began in 2001, will continue in 2007. Gold tends to move opposite to the U.S. dollar, and in the same direction as the price of crude oil and inflation in general. Many analysts believe the U.S. dollar will be in a continuing downtrend in 2007. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve says it is still concerned about rising inflation.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Sy Harding sees gold at ASA

Top Picks 2007: Sy Harding sees gold at ASA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.