For speculative investors aware of the risks associated with a development stage drug company, Karim Rahemtulla looks to Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN), a play on development of a drug to treat Alzheimer's.

In his Xcelerated Profits Report, the advisor explains, "Medivation continues to make good clinical trial progress with its Dimebon drug for Alzheimer's Disease.

"The firm received some mainstream media attention at the recent International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Vienna. Reuters, Forbes and Bloomberg all reported that Dimebon is changing the way scientists think about Alzheimer's.

"Wall Street has been nonplussed about results from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY); in my view, the Street is wrong," says Karim Rahemtulla in Xcelerated Profits Report.

"The stock has not joined many of its colleagues on the upside recently, but you can take Wall Street's lackluster opinion with a grain of salt. Yes, BMY's revenue of $5.02 billion fell a bit shy of projections for $5.13 billion, mostly due to a strong dollar negatively impacting sales.

"But sales grew 2.5% over the same period a year ago and earnings of 48 cents per share beat estimates by a penny. And with sales of Plavix rising 10% and demand for anti-depressant Abilify jumping 30%, it's hardly bad news.

"Is Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) ripe for a buyout?," asks growth expert Karim Rahemtulla. Here's an assessment from the investment director of Xcelerated Profits Report.

"I've predicted over the last several months that the larger pharmaceutical companies would be on the prowl for possible acquisitions.

"As it stands now, we probably haven't seen the last of such offers - and thanks to the previous two large mergers recently announced Merck acquiring Schering Plough and Pfizer buying Wyeth, many analysts are now speculating that Bristol-Myers Squibb could be next.

"While many firms are struggling to survive, a lucky minority are built to weather the storm better," says growth stock specialist Karim Rahemtulla. In Xcelerated Profits Report, he eyes Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST).

"Thanks to rising inflation and unemployment, coupled with a beaten-up economy, many retailers are braced for a harsh new reality this holiday season.

"Consumers have much tighter budgets and are cutting back on whatever they can. And that's where some 'one-stop' retailers like Costco can really take advantage.

"Although customers are more likely to avoid the electronics and other non-necessity stocking sections of the store these days, they still need to eat.

"So while other non-food departments are seeing a sales slowdown, Goldman Sachs recently reported that Costco is likely to enjoy strong food sales, which offset that.

"Goldman also noted that Costco boasts a strong balance sheet, with almost $3.3 billion in cash on the books, plus ample liquidity - factors that could encourage management to implement a stock buyback program.

"Compared to other retailers who are flat-out dreading this holiday season, that puts Costco in a strong position.

"And because the store has such a diverse range of products, all under one roof and available at bargain prices, Costco is one firm better prepared to ride out what could be a brutal season for retailers."

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.

"I've spotted an excellent opportunity to cash in on the turnaround of one of America's most visible companies -- Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)," says Jim Stanton.

The quantitative analyst and contributing editor to Xcelerated Profits Report explains, "I've had my eye on a number of retail stocks for some time now, looking for signs of a potential turnaround, and Starbucks is now high on my list."

"One of the main reasons for the slide in SBUX shares from its high of $40 in November 2006 was the overly aggressive expansion plan.

"And as food and dairy prices have soared, this has led to higher operating costs. In turn, this forced Starbucks to raise prices, just as consumers were struggling from the housing slump and soaring inflation.

"And as competition from the likes of McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts has turned up the heat, Starbucks has suffered charges related to closing out unprofitable stores. But Starbucks is tackling the problems.

"Carl Icahn - one of Wall Street's most renowned and successful investors - is on another mission; this pitbull is sinking his teeth into one of the companies in our portfolio - Enzon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENZN)," notes Marc Lichtenfeld.

In Xcelerated Profits Report, the senior analyst and noted healthcare sector expert takes a look at the small cap biotechnology, which is involved in developing products for the treatment of cancer.

"With an infamous reputation for diving into stocks that he perceives as undervalued and shaking up management teams in order to boost shareholder value, Icahn us one of the best 'business partners' we could have.

"One of the big reasons why we recommended Enzon was because some major institutional investors are clamoring for change at the company. They contend that if Enzon was better at maximizing its true potential, the stock could easily vault from its current undervalued state and generate some real wealth for its shareholders.

"My more conservative idea for 2008 is Wachovia (NYSE: WB)," says Karim Rahemtulla, investment director for Xcelerated Profits Report.

"While many investors are running in fear of the current climate, it actually offers smart investors a great chance to accelerate their profits. There is nothing like a hearty dose of fear to trigger a bout of bargain-hunting! And if you know where to look, there are plenty of bargains.

"You can even make money against all the odds and despite what Wall Street and the media want you to believe. History has proved this. While the masses ran for cover, smart investors stepped in and made serious money.

"And one of the best areas to do this is the financial sector. It's top of the bearish hit list right now, but it's actually packed with profit potential over the next 12 months. Top of our list is Wachovia.

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.

"My more speculative idea for 2008 is Immersion (NASDAQ: IMMR)," says Karim Rahemtulla, investment director for Xcelerated Profits Report.

"This time last year, Immersion shares were trading in the single-digits. But when the company finally prevailed in its prolonged patent infringement lawsuit against Sony, the stock took off.

"The company is an industry leader in the field of 'haptics' and touch-sense technology. This is the kind of software you find in PlayStation gaming consoles and associated games – which makes the controller vibrate and puts gamers into the action more realistically.

"But the company also has major revenue streams in a variety of areas. In the medical industry, for example, its force-feedback technology is helping surgeons train in a more realistic way, replicating the motion in the human body. The medical segment is Immersion's biggest revenue generator, accounting for around 40% of annual revenues.