This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

For his top fund selection for 2010, fund specialist Ron Rowland turns to the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap (EWX).

In his All Star Investor, he suggests, "This is the easiest way to gain access to the small cap stocks of all the emerging markets, as it includes stocks from more than 20 countries countries."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: SPDR Small Cap Emerging (EWX)

Top Picks for 2010: SPDR Small Cap Emerging (EWX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two leading growth stock expert, Brandon Clay, editor of Invest with an Edge, and Alexander Green, editor of The Oxford Club, turn to automated blood testing equipment maker Immucor (NASDAQ: BLUD) as a recession-resistant buy.

Clay suggest, "A good bet is to go with the strongest stock in that particular sector at the time of your pickThat way, the company you select at least has the momentum of the sector backing it. Typically the medical industry performs better than the overall market in a downturn. This recession has been no different.

"As we dug deeper into health care, one company surfaced that was worth our attention. Immucor is a blood testing equipment manufacturer specializing in pre-transfusion diagnostics.

"Established in 1982, they brought their first patent to market four years later. Since then they've become a leader in blood diagnostics and blood bank technology.

Continue reading Immucor (BLUD): Two experts bank on blood bank buy

Immucor (BLUD): Two experts bank on blood bank buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

Leading fund expert Ron Rowland looks to a conservatively managed mutual fund as his favorite investment play for 2009. In his All Star Investor, the advisor takes a look at Gateway Fund (GATEX).

"Gateway Fund is a conservative fund that has shown equity-like returns with bond-like volatility for over 20 years.

"From inception in 1988 through November 2008, GATEX had a +7.6% annual return -- slightly behind the S&P 500 but with a fraction of the volatility.

"More recently, the fund's steady returns are beating the market by a mile. Gateway pioneered the 'buy-write' strategy of owning stocks and selling call options to earn income.

"The fund is at its best in choppy, sideways markets -- which makes it an excellent choice for risk-averse investors who don't want to abandon equities entirely in this uncertain economy."

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.

Top Stock Picks '09: Gateway Fund (GATEX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"To play the classic semiconductor-cycle (buying on a down-cycle and selling after an up-cycle), go with NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA)," say Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

The editors of All Star Investor explain, "This graphic chip manufacturer stumbled earlier this year, but we find a compelling a turnaround story." Here's his review.

"This is a difficult environment for short-term investors. When the Dow jumps up 200 points one day, and crashes 200 points the next, it's hard to tell where to turn. Calling bottoms is nearly impossible

"In this market, we have become value investors -- seeking an inexpensive company that's almost-undiscovered by mainstream investors.

"Technology is not typically known as a place for value. In fact, quite the opposite. Since the Tech crash, a shift has happened. Certain semiconductors have been hammered over the past several years -- especially in the last 12 months.

"One of those, a leader in graphics chips, has been especially beaten down. NVIDIA fell from a 52-week high of $39.67 last October. The Santa Clara-based chip designer is now trading around $12.00 today. Did it really deserve the punishment the market delivered? We don't think so.

Continue reading NVIDIA (NVDA): A 'classic' turnaround for graphics chip maker

NVIDIA (NVDA): A 'classic' turnaround for graphics chip maker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With concerns over recession, turmoil in the financial sector, fear of rising rates, high market volatility and a rising aversion to risk, many investors have been avoiding technology stocks.

Investors have feared that these economic headwinds will dampen both consumer spending for technology products and reduced capital expenditures for technology in the corporate sector.

Despite these concerns, some of the newsletter industry's leading advisors are looking beyond the current malaise and seeing longer-term value in some of the tech sector's leading players. They believe that much of the "bad news" is already reflected in the price of the shares, with little recognition being given to their longer-term potential.

For those willing to go against the crowd and buy, as they say, "while blood is running in the street," we offer a six-pack of technology stocks that the some top advisors considers to be among their favorite ideas.

Continue reading A six-pack of technology favorites

A six-pack of technology favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"For the next two-and-a-half weeks, almost all you'll hear in the news will be related to the 29th Olympiad in Beijing," points out Brandon Clay, who focuses on a China ETF as his latest investment idea.

In his All Star Investor newsletter, he explains, "Beyond this, in 2010, we will see the World Expo in Shanghai and the Asian Games in Guangzhou." So is now a good time to invest in China? Here's the advisor's assessment and his top pick for exposure to the region.

"China has been gearing up for the Games for the past few years. Finally, with a dozen new sports stadiums and a cross-city underground railway to ferry visitors to different venues, China will be on display to the world.

"If you've been investing internationally, you're no stranger to China. Depending on when you bought, you may either love it or hate it. For instance, in 2007 Chinese stocks rocketed up the charts 97%.

"In 2006, the gains were even more impressive at 130%! But it hasn't been all fun and games in the past two years. China peaked at the same time U.S. stocks in October 2007.

Continue reading Olympic gains for China stocks? Look at FXI to play the games and beyond

Olympic gains for China stocks? Look at FXI to play the games and beyond originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"What is one thing you can't live without?" asks Brandon Clay and Ron Rowland. "Take away that glass of cool, clean drinking water from your diet, then it's a matter of days before you dehydrate and die." ons

In All Star Investor, they explain, "Water is essential to our survival." And for investors, they add, "Powershares Water Resources Portfolio (ASE: PHO) is a perfect play on the global demand for water technology."

"The essential nature of water is the same for the 6.67 billion people on this planet. With Latin America and Asia entering the modern world at an unprecedented pace, water is becoming even scarcer.

"Improving diets and growing industry have pushed this diminishing resource further from the reach of many people. Yes, people are still drinking water, but at what cost?

"Water covers most of our planet. Still, less than 2% is fresh water. That makes water a limited resource. Consumption is growing with 6,000 cubic meters per inhabitant used every year. That's the equivalent of draining Lake Superior - the biggest lake in the world - twice. Since the water cycle is not replenishing growing demand, water sources are being depleted.

Continue reading Powershares Water (PHO): The one essential for life

Powershares Water (PHO): The one essential for life originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Green investing and clean energy may be the politically correct topic at cocktail parties, but coal is the economically correct vehicle for investors," says Ronald Rowland and Brandon Clay.

The editors of All Star Investor explain, "Coal has been an energy source for millennia -- and is still the number #1 source of energy for electric power plants in the world." And, they add, "One of the best places to invest in coal is Consol Energy (NYSE: CNX).

"Prehistoric Chinese are said to have used coal for heating. According to Roman historians, Britain burned coal in the first century. Throughout history, coal has been the primary source of heat in homes.

"Rapidly industrializing nations like China are still dependent upon coal for energy. Overall global consumption has not diminished either. Coal fuels 48% of electricity plant generators. And the trend is heading upward - probably for the next 30 years. Despite the deafening rhetoric, coal is not going away anytime soon. Investors should take notice.

Continue reading Consol Energy (CNX): Top play in coal

Consol Energy (CNX): Top play in coal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We like to invest in the strongest sectors and we think Industrials are on their way to the top," note Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay in All Star Investor.

The advisors explain, "Surveying the horizon of industrial companies, the most promising is Bermuda-based, Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR). This is a stock you want for the next 12 months."

"The stock market is a leading indicator; it starts to decline before the economy slows down, and it starts to advance well before the economy improves. These lags often results in a stock market that starts moving up just when the public becomes 'convinced' that the problems are serious.

"Economic reports are likely to get worse. Housing foreclosures are likely to increase. Many more employees are likely to be let go. These are the perceptions that currently haunt investors.

"However, these are often the very same perceptions that create bottoms in the stock market. It is hard to see how the economy will crawl out of this mess, but eventually it will. The groundwork is now being laid.

"It may seem counter-intuitive, but investors should start planning for the next expansionary cycle. Markets move well ahead of facts, and it's time to invest accordingly. And indeed, industrials have risen in our rankings in recent weeks.

"A global leader of broad-based equipment offerings, Ingersoll-Rand is positioned to capitalize on the next phase of development like no other company in its sector. Here's why.

Continue reading Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials

Ingersoll-Rand (IR): It's time for Industrials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.