Tetra Tech Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) provides consulting, engineering, construction, and technical services for resource management and infrastructure in the United States and internationally.

Clearly, the company has a stake in the proposed rebuilding of infrastructure that serves as part of the foundation of the latest economic stimulus packages.

Don't look now, but Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) is up about 20% in the past month. People gotta eat, and, thanks to the recession, they're opting to eat at home more often.

Sara Lee reports earnings on August 12, and analysts expect earnings per share to be 5 cents less than a year ago. Last quarter, the company blew out the estimate by nearly 40%.

With sentiment mixed (only a third of analysts rate the shares a "buy"), another beat this quarter should keep the rally intact.

Buy SLE call options.

Next: Earnings Trade #4

With strong numbers from IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), along with some bullish comments from Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), look for positive results from Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) when it reports earnings on August 18.

After seeing a dip earlier this month, the shares rebounded to hit a nine-month high. Sentiment is somewhat optimistic, but the stock should ride the bullish coattails of its competitors heading into earnings.

Buy HPQ call options.

Next: Earnings Trade #3

Cerner Corp. (NASDAQ: CERN) is a health care information technology provider, and that's a hot place to be right now.

The company reports on July 29, and earnings expectations are modest. In fact, only a third of covering analysts consider CERN a "buy," which leaves plenty of room for upgrades. The stock needs to break through potential resistance at $65, and earnings could give it that boost.

Buy CERN call options.

Next: Earnings Trade #2

Beating the Street at the earnings game is all about knowing the market's true expectations for a stock.

Knowing the market's expectations -- not just the analyst expectations -- for a stock will often provide the edge necessary to turn earnings season into a profit opportunity.

The more data and trends you can look at to determine not only what investors expect, but also how investors are positioning themselves for the expected move, the better.

"Our latest Focus Stock is a bullish play on Dell Computer (NASDAQ: DELL)," says Chris Johnson, who uses both a technical and contrarian-based approach in his Insightful Investor.

"Dell Computer is one of the largest retail computer manufactures in the world. The company supplies businesses and consumers with PC computers, printers, and other peripherals.

"For years, we've watched Michael Dell's company languish, as a slowdown in PC demand combined with a saturation of the PC market caused DELL shares to fall more than 50%. Now, after spending the past four months trading around the 20 mark, the stock may be ready to make a short-term run.

"From a technical perspective, the stock has recently built a bottom around the 20 level. This comes after bouncing from the lows near 18, which also represents the lows during the bear market started in 2000.

"The railroad sector is one of the few reliable groups in today's market; with solid pricing power, these companies have a solid future moving forward," says contrarian Chris Johnson.

"We are adding CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) as a long position to the Insightful Investor portfolio. Here's his look at the stock, and an options play for those seeking leverage.

"Last week, our Earnings Tip Sheet highlighted CSX as a bullish pick ahead of earnings. The stock was positioned for a jump according to our Behavioral Valuation approach. One week and a positive earnings report later, we're looking to increase our exposure to the company.

"CSX has now reported earnings results that handily beat both the analyst forecast and the whisper number. The company overcame softness in some sectors through increased shipments in ethanol and grain as well as increased foreign demand for coal.

"Rail companies appear strong moving forward, given that rising crude oil prices are forcing companies to use more cost-efficient means to ship their goods.

"What's more, CSX was the first of the 'big four' rail companies to report earnings. The company should thus benefit from positive reports when its competitors enter the earnings confessional.

"Finding its way onto the short-term bullish list is discount retailer Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), our 'focus stock of the week'," says Chris Johnson in his contrarian advisor service, Insightful Investor.

"The warehouse giant is currently seeing a positive mix of technical strength along with growing pessimism that makes it a potential outperformer. Costco is one company that has maintained a level of demand not seen throughout the bulk of the retailing sector.

"COST's core business, which caters to small businesses and households willing to buy in bulk, has maintained strength despite the slowing economy. In fact, the company's latest earnings report, released March 5, beat analyst expectations by 23%.

"Reflective of its fundamental strength, COST's stock price has remained a relative strength leader by trading above its 50-day moving average. The equity has outperformed not only most of its peers in the retail group, but the overall market as well.

"We're adding a position in one of our favorite ETFs for 2008: the PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (NYSE: DBA), which provides investors with an alternative way to invest in the agricultural sector," says technical analyst and contrarian investor Chris Johnson.

The money manager and editor of Insightful Investor explains, "We feel a long-term position in DBA is appropriate for any investor's portfolio." Here is his review.

"One of the areas of the economy that we have been outwardly bullish on is the agricultural group. From a fundamental perspective, the 'ag play' is in full force, as demand and supply remain imbalanced. This has been a fantastic catalyst for a number of stocks that have to do with the agriculture sector, as we have heard in the news quite a bit lately.

"While we like the environment that this creates for a number of stocks, there is one agricultural investment that we do not hear trumpeted in the media as much as one might expect. We're referring to an investment in agricultural products, not the companies that help to produce the products.

"Lack of fear can be a relative term," says Chris Johnson, who focuses on both technical analyst and contrary investing, and believes we have not yet seen enough pessimism to justify a long-term market bottom. However, he does see selected opportunities, such as Costco (NASDAQ: COST) in the retail space.

The editor of Insightful Investor explains, "Given the situation presented to investors over the past month, we should almost see them crying in the streets and selling everything in their portfolios. But that's not the case, as we continue to witness optimism among the key sentiment gauges."

The advisor continues, "What does this mean? Well, it means that the worst is likely yet to come. We're still waiting for a sign that investors are truly capitulating instead of hoping that the economy will miss a recession."

Johson suggests, "Capitulation ... true capitulation, that is ... is combined of two things -- massive selling accompanied by extremely high levels of pessimism. One without the other can identify a short-term buying opportunity. But given where the market is right now, a true bottom is not likely to be drawn until both of these events happen at the same time."

"For our latest Focus Stock we look to the consumer staples chain, add Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG) to our portfolio," says Chris Johnson.

In The Insightful Investor, the advisor explains, "Consumer staples stocks continue to provide a bullish alternative within this potentially slowing economic environment." Here is his review.

"Proctor & Gamble is attractive for a number of reasons. First, the obvious: in the consumer staples universe, it's hard to get bigger than P&G. The Cincinnati-based company produces everything from Ivory soap to Pampers diapers to various snack foods.

"In other words, P&G has a heavy presence in most every household, something that probably won't change too much should the economy slow down.

"Second, PG has an incredible international presence, which provides a few valuable fundamentals. Demand for their products continues to grow with the strength in overseas economies. And a weakening dollar won't hurt P&G's balance sheet as it may other domestic companies.

Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL), which is trading near multi-year highs, has caught the attention of contrarian and technician Chris Johnson, money manager and editor of Insightful Investor.

In addition to its Rubbermaid brand, the consumer products firm makes consumer products under names such as Sharpie, Paper Mate, and Lenox.

The advisor is impressed with the stock's relative strength, noting that the shares are up 7.4% for 2007, while the S&P 500 is down slightly. As a contrarian, he notes, "Despite this strong performance, there is a healthy amount of negative sentiment toward the stock, according to a number of indicators."

One sign that the stock is out of favor notes Johnson is its put/call ratio, which he says indicates that the options crowd is extremely pessimistic. In adition, he notes that only 55% of Wall Street analysts who follow the stock rate it a buy. He notes, "That leaves plenty of room for upgrades to move the stock higher."

He expects the stock to continue outperforming the overall market and has added the issue to his portfolio. For those comfortable with the higher risks involved with options, he recommends the June 25 call – with a recent asking price of $6.40.

He explains, "This option provides a sufficient amount of both time and intrinsic value to help weather the market's current volatility. This should help to avoid being shaken out of the position due to the short-term volatility that it may incur."

For more stock picks from the leading financial newsletter advisors, visit Steven Halpern's free daily website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

As a contrarian technical analyst, Chris Johnson looks for sectors and stocks that are climbing a "Wall of Worry." Based on this criteria, the editor of The Insightful Investor notes, "The utility sector is positioned for a run of market-beating performance."

He explains, "In reviewing our sector analysis tools, we have found a sector -- and an associated exchange-trade fund as well as an individual stock -- that are poised to outperform the market, especially if the overall market it experiences any weakness.

He admits that the utility sector is "not terribly sexy," he believes that Utilities Select Sector SPDR (ASE: XLU) is poised to outpace the market based on what he calls "a combination of strong technical performance and negative sentiment."