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.

"VIST Financial Corp. (VIST) -- which operates 24 banking and mortgage centers in Pennsylvania -- is our favorite investment idea for the coming year," says Benj Gallaner and Ben Stadelmann.

The co-editors of Contra the Heard explain, "Last April two institutional investors specializing in banking recently purchased 644,000 shares at $8.00, moving the share count to around 6.5 million.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: VIST Financial (VIST)

Top Picks 2011: VIST Financial (VIST) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In the middle of the summer with the stock market smoldering from the economic aftershocks of the BP (BP) oil spill, I decided to post a contrarian story emphasizing a very common refrain among value investors, "my pal Warren" being head of the class: buy on fear (sell on greed). This notion is continuing to work for what I called the toxic stock portfolio.

This is the third update to my ranting five months ago that six of the most reviled and most highly traded stocks featured by daily bad press as a group would outperform the overall market. It has, with the big winner rising from being one of the biggest losers.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Toxic Stock Update #3 -- BAC, BP, C, GE, GS, RIG

Chasing Value: Toxic Stock Update #3 -- BAC, BP, C, GE, GS, RIG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"If you're looking for a trend-defying, against-the-grain stock pick, consider the oil drilling industry," says contrarian investor David Fessler.

The contributing editor to Investment U suggests, "If you're looking to get into the oil and gas sector without worrying about the next Gulf disaster, take a closer look at Rosetta Resources (ROSE), an independent oil and gas exploration, development and acquisition company that drills in the dirt instead of the ocean.

"Seasoned industry executives put together a plan build a profitable, land-based oil and gas exploration company from the ground up; this is now paying off big-time.

Continue reading Legacy Wells Boost Rosetta Resources (ROSE)

Legacy Wells Boost Rosetta Resources (ROSE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Following a record low reading for new home sales, you might think now is the worst time to bet on a housing recovery," says Lou Basenese.

The editor of the Small Cap and Special Situations Report asserts, "Think again. The aftermath of such disappointing news represents an ideal contrarian opportunity.

And one such opportunity is Avatar Holdings (AVTR), which ranks as a buy even by Ben Graham's strict value criteria.

Continue reading Avatar Holdings (AVTR): A Ben Graham-Style Housing Value

Avatar Holdings (AVTR): A Ben Graham-Style Housing Value originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

"AOL (AOL), formerly America Online, is one of the most storied -- and bloodied -- names in the Internet sector," says Bernie Schaeffer.

Referring to skepticism surrounding its early December spin-off from Time Warner, the editor of Schaeffer's Investment Research chooses AOL as his top pick for 2010, noting, "From a contrarian perspective, the current pessimism could have positive implications."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: AOL (AOL)

Top Picks for 2010: AOL (AOL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: 2010 -- #2 Grubb & Ellis

Chasing Value: 2010 -- #2 Grubb & Ellis originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:40:00 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.

"My top pick for 2009, Hertz Global Holdings (NYSE: HTZ) is a very contrarian idea in one of the most beaten down sectors," states Glenn Cutler.

In his Stock Market Blog and Special Situations Report, the advisor says, "Hertz Global -- the world's largest car rental brand -- has over 8,000 locations in 144 countries.

"They are #1 at airports with corporate and licensee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand and additional licensee operations in cities and airports in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

"Through Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation unit, the company operates one of the largest equipment rental businesses for a diverse line of customers ranging from major industrial companies to local contractors to consumers with over 350 branch locations in the U.S., Canada, China, France, and Spain.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Hertz (HTZ)

Top Stock Picks '09: Hertz (HTZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My favorite 'home run' speculation for 2008 is playing a rebound in the beaten-down US housing sector," says Mike Burnick, editor of Global Market Investor.

"Specifically, I like the iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction ETF (ASE: ITB). This exchange-traded fund is a pure contrarian play not based on valuation, since fundamentals continue to deteriorate in the US housing market.

"The US housing market is still a mess, home prices are plunging, sales continue to slump, and inventories of unsold homes are at record highs. There's very little we can see to like in this sector.

"But, in fact, that's often the key to earning big returns in the stock market: Make well-timed contrarian bets on the most unloved stocks and sectors.

"However, I believe that negative sentiment in the sector has reached an extreme. Put/call volume on homebuilder stocks is at an extreme, and short interest is near record highs. I believe the turning point for this sector is close at hand.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: Contrary call on US Home Construction ETF (ITB)

Best Stocks for 2008: Contrary call on US Home Construction ETF (ITB) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"While others are waiting for the next shoe to drop in the stock markets, I believe that the bottom is in," says technical expert Yola Edwards. Meanwhile, in The Internet Wealth Builder she has found a stock that she likes within "the rubble of the U.S. housing market." The stock? KB Home (NYSE: KBH).

Edwards explains, "I'm not saying that the subprime issue isn't significant, but I do believe that it is now priced into the market. It appears that the worst is over for the Dow Jones Industrial Average as well."

A technician by trade, she points out that the market is drastically oversold and the index has traced out a multi-year inverted head and shoulders pattern. Based on this pattern, she notes, a minimum upside target of 14,500 should be expected.

Meanwhile, for those comfortable with an out-of-favor, contrarian play, she sees both fundamental and technical opportunity in the shares of KB Home, a Los Angeles-based builder of single-family homes.

She notes, "Given what's been happening in the U.S. housing market, it should come as no surprise that the current financials are poor. KB Home has seen domestic sales battered by the housing downturn, which has been exacerbated in recent months by tightened lending standards by banks."

Continue reading Technician sees KB Home (KBH) building value

Technician sees KB Home (KBH) building value originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.