"The urge to merge is growing among global corporations. Near-record cash holdings, improved stock markets and increased regulations (which often drive consolidation) should fuel an increase in deal activity," says dividend expert Chuck Carlson.

Th editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "While I don't recommend stocks simply because they represent attractive takeover stocks, takeover appeal is an added kicker. Three such targets are Cabot Corp. (CBT), Molex (MOLX) and Hess Corp. (HES).

"Apple (APPL) recently reported quarterly sales and profits that exceeded Wall Street's expectations by a country mile," notes dividend reinvestment expert Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The company's humongous cash haul begs the question -- when will Apple start to pay a dividend.

"Revenue rose 71%, while profits jumped 75% to $6.43 per share, beating the consensus earnings estimate by a whopping $1.03 per share.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"A stock that should do well in 2011 is Ameriprise Financial (AMP); the company offers financial planning, asset management, and insurance products," says dividend reinvestment specialist Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The company's product focus on meeting the retirement needs of 'mass affluent individuals.'

"Texas Instruments (TXN) was roughed up pretty badly in 2008 and 2009. Profits fell sharply for this semiconductor giant, as did the stock price," says dividend reinvestment plan specialist Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The shares plummeted from nearly $40 per share in 2007 to $13 in early 2009. The stock has come roaring back from the 2009 lows, paced by impressive rebounds in sales and profits.

"For 2010, Texas Instruments should post record per-share profits in the vicinity of $2.47 per share. Based on that estimate, the stock seems cheap at less than 12 times earnings.

"Foreign corporations have been on a mini buying spree in 2010. Not surprising, merger and acquisition activity has heated up a bit in the drug sector," says Chuck Carlson, editor of The DRIP Investor.

The dividend expert explains, " Global merger and acquisition activity topped $1 trillion in the first half of 2010, a 9.4% increase over the previous year. And Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), recommend stock in our Editor's Portfolio, has been one of the more active participants.

"Income-hungry investors have spoken, and they have chosen bonds as their investment of choice," notes dividend expert Chuck Carlson, who prefers to look to blue chip stocks for potential capital gains and income growth.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "In 2009, a record $375 billion of new money flooded into bond funds. Over the same period, domestic stock funds saw $40 billion go out the door.

And through the first half of 2010, taxable bond funds had net new cash flow of $136 billion versus outflows of $18.4 billion for domestic stock funds. This torrent of money has driven down the yields on bonds to microscopic levels.

"The upshot is that, on a relative basis, dividend-paying stocks seem quite cheap compared to bonds.

"In a number of respects, Motorola (MOT) is the quintessential 'special situations' stock; indeed, I like the various investment angles -- company break up, asset sales, buying by a big insider, a re-energized product line," asserts Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The firm is in the midst of a major restructuring, which includes selling off assets and splitting the company into two separately traded entities.

"The breakup, scheduled for next year, will separate the company's handset phone business from its enterprise mobility business.

"New products are the life-blood of any pharmaceutical company. Unfortunately, blockbuster drug breakthroughs have been fairly rare in recent years, lowering valuations for pharmaceutical stocks," says Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor, which focuses on dividend reinvestment strategies, explains, "The good news is that the lone drug stock in the Editor's Portfolio, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), has had a spate of good news recently on the drug-development front.

"The company recently announced that a mid-stage trial of an experimental arthritis drug had met its goal, supporting further development of the drug.

"The tech sector remains one of the more attractive areas for investment. One stock in the technology group that offers a lot to like right now is Intel (INTC)," says Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "And the recent pullback in the stock price is now offering an excellent opportunity to begin building a position in these shares.

"I like the fact that the company is coming off three quarters of much-better-than expected earnings. I like the stock's valuation at just 11 times the consensus 2010 earnings estimate of $1.87. That seems cheap to me given the expected profit growth for this year and next.

"For much of the market's rally since March 2009, the best-performing stocks were those that tilted toward the risky side. That is about to change," says Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "Quality stocks -- larger companies with consistent track records, strong finances, industry leadership positions, and stable and growing dividends -- should lead the market going forward.

"Quality stocks now offer good relative value versus more aggressive stocks, and I suspect investors will be more focused on a value over the next 12 to 24 months.

"Technology companies have been putting up good numbers lately, as there appears to be a revival in corporate IT spending. One firm that should take advantage of the uptick in technology spending is Microsoft (MSFT)," says Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor, an advisor specializing in quality stocks offering dividend reinvestment plans, explains, "The company's new operating system, Windows 7, is seeing solid demand, and the release of Offi ce 2010 should be another winner. Per-share profits should return to the growth track this fiscal year.

The editor of The DRIP Investor -- and author of the just released The LIttle Book of Big Dividends -- explains, "For 2009 overall, more than 800 companies cut their dividend payments, according to S&P. That was nearly 200 more than in 2008 and more than seven times the number of cuts in 2007."

Looking for dividend-paying blue chip stocks? Chuck Carlson is a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans.

In The DRIP Investor, he looks at the 10/10 Club -- stocks that have boosted their payouts by 10% a year for at least 10 years. He explains,"The table below features seven stocks that belong to the exclusive '10/10' club:

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.

"General Mills (GIS) looks especially tasty for total returns in 2010," says Chuck Carlson, a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans -- a low-cost strategy for long-term investors to accumulate shares of a particular stock directly from the company.

On his The DRIP Investor, he explains, "There is a transition taking place in the stock market toward high-quality, dividend-paying stocks. General Mills plays into this trend very nicely.