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.

Todd Salamone, editor with Schaeffer's Investment Research, chose Amkor Technology (NASDAQ: AMKR) as his top pick for 2007. Despite rising 55% as of June 1, 2007, he continues to recommend this stock as his ongoing favorite for the second half of the year.

The advisor explains, "Since the start of the year, the shares of Amkor have put in a stellar performance. The equity has enjoyed a monster uptrend since the start of year, pushing it up to levels not seen since April 2004. The stock has succeeded in bouncing off support at its ascending 10-week moving average and has since continued its rally along this trendline.

"During this time frame, the stock has tacked on more than 50%. Despite their gains, the shares could still be attractive to valuation players. The stock's price-to-earnings ratio comes in at 16, which is still well below the industry average of 30.

"Aiding the security's ascent has been a strong fundamental backdrop. On February 7, the company reported earnings of 30 cents per share, crushing its year-ago profit of 24 cents per share and the consensus analyst estimate of 23 cents per share, according to Reuters.

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.

Amkor Technology (NASDAQ: AMKR), a semiconductor packaging and test services firm, is the top speculative idea for 2007 from Todd Salamone. The editor of Equity WealthBuilder notes, "Amkor shares have been on a tear, more than doubling as of mid-December.

"The rally began when Amkor restated its 2005 and first-quarter 2006 earnings reports with the SEC, which resolved a potential conflict with bondholders. A second bullish catalyst was record third-quarter sales and a third-quarter profit -- after reporting a loss in the third quarter the prior year.

"On the technical front, the stock had consolidated since July 2004 at its lowest levels this decade. Now, a combination of positive earnings surprises and strong technical momentum in the shares could attract momentum players, while its P/E of 10 may attract valuation players.

"With positive catalysts in place, strong price action during recent weeks, and the potential for valuation players to take notice, there is a very good possibility that the unwinding of negative sentiment surrounding these shares could drive a sustained trend higher.

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.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is the top conservative investment for 2007 from Todd Salamone, editor of Equity WealthBuilder. He observes, "With the Dow utility average trading at all-time highs amid a low interest rate environment, it is amazing that utility stocks have received little attention.

"Meanwhile, Duke is a strong name in the sector. Not only does it offer strong capital appreciation potential, but the 3.87% yield rates among the top dividend yields in the group.

"In January 2007, the company plans on spinning off its natural gas operations into a new, publicly traded company called Spectra Energy. The move is designed to unlock value in both the natural-gas operation and the electric utility, with the streamlined businesses expected to operate more efficiently. This spin-off, therefore, is a positive catalyst for the upcoming year.

"From a technical perspective, DUK has become a relative-strength leader, outperforming the Dow Jones Utility Average since October 2005. Turning to DUK's sentiment backdrop, an earnings miss in early November 2006 did little to derail the shares.