"Silvercorp Metals (SVM), based in Vancouver, Canada, produces silver from mines in China and Canada; annual revenues are $153 million," notes Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "SVM's stock has ridden rides the wave of rising prices for silver and the stock has broken out from a three-month, cup-and-handle base.

"Silvercorp mined 406,754 tons of ore in the past fiscal year. It sold 4.6 million ounces of silver, 62.4 million pounds of lead and 14.7 million pounds of zinc.

"Cliffs Natural (CLF), a mining firm producing iron ore, has shown a technical price breakout from a 5-week, cup-and-handle base," says technical Leo Fasciocco.

The breakout specialist and editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "The move carries the stock to a 52-week high. CLF's 12-month performance chart shows the stock appreciating 90% versus a 20% gain for the S&P 500 index.

"With annual revenues of $394 million, Stillwater Mining (SWC) is a small cap play in the palladium, platinum and associated metals mining sector," says technician Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "Technically, the stock has broken out from a nine-week flat base. The move carries the stock to an 8-year high.

"Stillwater produces palladium, platinum and associated metals from a geological formation in south central Montana known as the J-M Reef and from the recycling of spent catalytic converters.

"Disney (DIS) recently broke out from a nine-week flat base, with a big expansion in volume," notes technician and breakout specialist Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "Although one needs to be patient with this stock, its recent push to a 10-year high is very bullish. Technically, it means there is no overhead resistance.

"This big cap play, with annual revenues of $38.1 billion, is most suitable for conservative investors. This is also a stock that could attract buying from big mutual funds.

"Our latest featured breakout stock is American Tower (AMT), which recently moved to a new 10-year high," says Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest, who focuses on stocks breaking out of technical basing patterns, explains, "With annual revenues of $1.9 billion, the company operates wireless communications towers, broadcast communications towers and distributed antenna system networks.

"The firm's wireless and broadcast towers consisted of towers that it owned and towers that it operated pursuant to long-term lease arrangements. They include 20,000 towers in the U.S. and 7,000 towers in Mexico, Brazil and India.

"Boston Beer (SAM) recently broke out from a six-month flat base; the move carried the stock to a new all-time high," says breakout specialist Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "SAM produces malt beverages and hard cider products at its breweries and under contract arrangements at other brewery locations.

"Technically, it is one of the strongest stocks in the market having climbed from 20 two years ago to 81 -- a fourfold move.

"Discovery Communications (DISCA), based in Silver Spring, Md., is a global media and entertainment company," says technical analyst Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest, which specializes in stocks breaking out from basing patterns, explains, "Technically, the stock has broken out from a 6-week flat base ; the move took the shares to an all-time high.

"With annual revenues of $3.7 billion, the company provides original and purchased programming across multiple distribution platforms in the US and 170 other countries.

"Baidu (BIDU), a Chinese-language Internet search provider, has been one of the strongest in the stock market for the past few years," notes technician Leo Fasccioco, who specializes in stocks that are breaking out of basing patterns.

The editor of The Ticker Tape Digest explains, "The stock, which recently split 10-for-1, has broken out from a 12-week flat base today. We now rate BIDU as an excellent intermediate term play.

"The company conducts its operations in China principally through Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. BIDU offers a Chinese-language search platform; the company also launched a Japanese search service.

"Technically, Deere & Co. (DE) is in a 17-week flat base; the stock has now pushed toward the top of the base as in position to breakout at any time; with earnings growth to accelerate the next two quarters, we have has high expectations for a breakout," says Leo Fasciocco.

The technical "breakout" specialist and editor of The Ticker Tape Digest explains, "The company makes farm and turf equipment, and related service parts. The construction and forestry sells machines and parts used in construction, earthmoving, material handling and timber harvesting.

"DE's long-term chart shows the stock climbing from 28 in 2005 to a peak of 94 during that bull market phase. The stock then made the round trip during the following bear market.

"Chocolate and confectionery products maker Hershey Co. (HSY), based in Hershey, Pa., has broken out from an eight-week base. The move carries the stock to a new two-year high; in our view, this is a conservative play, showing consistent and good institutional buying interest," says technical breakout specialist Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "HSY's 12-month performance chart shows the stock appreciating 42% versus a 12% gain for the S&P 500 index. That is a good performance for a stock with a low beta of 0.30.

"Priceline (PCLN), the global online travel service company; has seen its stock drive higher to clear a technical six-week flat base," observes Leo Fasciocco, who specializes in finding "breakout" stocks.

The editor of The Ticker Tape Digest explains, "The stock is a market leader. The tape action based on block trades indicates good and steady institutional buying interest. Technically, the stock continued higher clearing the breakpoint line at 240 with room to spare."

The Limited Brands (LTD), which operates both Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, is a sold big cap play in the retail apparel sector," says Leo Fasccioco.

In his Ticker Tape Digest, the technician focuses on stocks that have broken out of basing patterns. He says, "The stock's 12-week, 'W' base is picture perfect. The breakout on the gap move is ideal."

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.

"My pick for 2010 is Blue Coat Systems (BCSI), a company that provides web security," says Leo Fasciocco, a leading technical analyst known for his focus on stocks that are breaking out of basing patterns.

In his The Ticker Tape Digest, he explains, "We consider the stock an excellent intermediate-term play because of its strong profit outlook."

In his Ticker Tape Digest, technician Leo Fasciocco looks for "breakout" stocks; his latest feature is HMS Holdings (HMSY), which coordinates benefits for government healthcare programs.

"With annual revenues of $185 million, HMSY helps ensure that healthcare claims are paid correctly and by the responsible party.

"As a result of the company's services, government healthcare programs recover over $1 billion annually and avoid billions of dollars more in erroneous payments.

"Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) is one of the strongest issues this year among the low-priced stocks; it has climbed from 76 cents to nearly $5," says technical expert Leo Fasciocco.

Fasciocco is a technician and editor of Ticker Tape Digest, an advisory service that focuses on finding stocks that are breaking out from technical basing patterns.

He suggests, "Based in New Jersey, Virgin Mobile offers wireless subscribers a choice in wireless service and innovative products without annual contracts; annual revenues are $1.3 billion.

"The stock's long-term chart shows VM trading as high as 15. It was dragged lower during the bear market. However, the stock has made the turn and is now in an up trend supported by good earnings prospects.