"I've put together a retirement blue print that will allow anyone who is 20 years old or younger to retire a multi-millionaire," says Steve Christ.

The editor of The Wealth Advisory explains, "This diversified portfolio, contains a transport, a utility, a tech company, a health care giant, and a defense contractor, all of which pay nice steady dividends with room for growth.

"All you need to start is $15,000 initial investment to go along with an additional $100 bucks a week in total contributions divided among the five stocks.

"We follow an approach to investng that focuses on broadly diversified investments in undervalued stocks for their long-term appreciation potential," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, " Two recently featured ideas -- Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter International (BAX) -- are among those we feel could serve as a portfolio foundation or as a new ideas for well- diversified holdings.

"Because major U.S. pharmaceutical companies face patent expirations on blockbuster drugs, consensus earnings expectations for the group are modest," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "One exception is Abbott Laboratories (ABT); Wall Street expects to increase earnings at a 10% annual rate over the next five years.

"Yet the market appears to discount that outlook, and the stock's price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG) of 1.2 is well below its peers.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Southern Copper (SCCO) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and positive near-term catalysts. The firm raised its target for shares to $38 from $35.
• JMP Securities upgraded Ultimate Software (ULTI) to outperform from market perform. The firm cites the company's expanding employee base for the upgrade. The firm has a $40 target on the stock.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Aeropostale (ARO) to neutral from underweight following the company's Q4 results and raised its target for shares to $31 from $24.
• Kennametal (KMT) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• Lifetime Brands (LCUT) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Barrington.
• Volvo (VOLVY) was upgraded to overweight from underweight at JPMorgan.

The march toward year end continues as three more stocks are reviewed in a search for the eventual 2010 stock picks. This year there will be nine stocks with a new wrinkle, I will add one naked put.

These options have contributed to a mind-boggling return on my 2009 portfolio, exceeding 200% to date. This has been a very unusual year, and I bet against the rampant fear in the market. I will not pretend for a moment that this is repeatable. What I will do is share my opinions and investing adventure, hoping to stimulate investor interest and dialog.

Plenty of companies are reporting earnings this Wednesday morning, one of which is Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT).

The health-care giant reported third-quarter earnings of 95 cents per share, far better than last year's 69 cents per share. Taking items out of the equation, Abbott would have earned 92 cents per share, which is two cents better than the consensus estimate. Quarterly revenue matched the consensus estimate for $7.76 billion.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), the broad-based health care company that produces both Humira and Similac, is scheduled to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results in a conference call Wednesday at 9:00 AM ET. You can catch the live webcast on the company's website.

During the three months that ended in September, Abbott Labs announced acquisitions of Visiogen, Evalve, and Solvay pharmaceuticals, as well as declared its 343rd consecutive quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect this suburban Chicago company to report that earnings rose 12.2% from a year ago to $0.90 per share. Sales for the quarter are expected to be 3.3% higher to $7.8 billion.

"Stocks are likely in a new downtrend," says Michael Ashbaugh. In Marketwatch's The Technical Indicator, he looks at the S&P's prospects and some drug stocks set to buck the trend.

"The S&P 500 has violated its major moving averages in the closely tracked 900 area. The recent downturn was convincingly bearish, placing the burden on market bulls to reassert the uptrend.

"After finding resistance in the 923 area, the S&P sold off sharply, edging back under its 200-day moving average, which currently holds at 900 and now marks resistance. This is bearish price action.

"Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is continuing its long record of rewarding shareholders," notes Alex Kolb In Zacks Elite, pointing to its 341st consecutive quarter of dividends since 1924.

"Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.

"The company employs more than 68,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

"The company recently released new data, showing that a combination of its new TriLipix triglycerides medicine and a low dose of AstraZeneca's Crestor cholesterol drug are better than the individual pills for treating heart problems.