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.

"To find strong dividend paying stocks, we apply two primary tests; and one stock that passes both of these tests -- and ranks our as top investment idea for the coming year -- is CPFL Energia (CPL), one of Brazil's major power utilities," says income specialist Neil George.

The editor of The Pay Me Strategy explains, "I focus on stocks that will grow your retirement wealth during good times and bad.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: CPFL Energia (CPL)

Top Picks 2011: CPFL Energia (CPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Hologic (HOLX) to buy from hold on expectations the company's next-generation breast tomosynthesis instrument is likely to receive FDA approval. The firm raised its target price for shares to $20 from $16.
• ING Group upgraded Total (TOT) to buy from hold.
• BofA/Merrill raised Medicis (MRX) to neutral from underperform.
• CPFL Energia (CPL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMGN, ARST, CPB, FE, GMAN, HOLX, NWL, TOT, XOM ...

Analyst Calls: AMGN, ARST, CPB, FE, GMAN, HOLX, NWL, TOT, XOM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded Gap (GPS) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation and expectations for EPS to grow in FY11. The firm thinks consensus estimates are achievable and has a $20 to $22 target valuation range for shares.
• BMO Capital upgraded Abercrombie (ANF) to outperform from market perform and has a $43 target on the stock. The firm believes Abercrombie's domestic business is turning and that the company is beginning to take share from competitors.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Codexis (CDXS) to overweight from neutral as it believes Shell's (RDS.A) biofuel commercialization plans and a potential carbon capture partnership present near-term catalysts for the stock. The firm upped its target for shares to $12 from $11.
• Tortoise Energy Capital (TYY) and Tortoise Energy (TYG) were upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Comerica (CMA) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.
• Methanex (MEOH) was upgraded to strong buy from outperform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMRC, ANF, CDXS, CIS, DGIT, GPS, MEOH, POT, RAX, ROST ...

Analyst Calls: AMRC, ANF, CDXS, CIS, DGIT, GPS, MEOH, POT, RAX, ROST ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We particularly favor two companies in Brazil. The economy appears to be on the mend from the global financial crisis and should be expanding at a 5% pace again by 2010.

"Brazil's prosperity is translating into greater consumption of electricity and water. Two major beneficiaries are our Growth & Income holdings CPFL Energia (NYSE: CPL) and Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS), known as SABESP for short.

Continue reading Bet on Brazilian utilities for income and growth

Bet on Brazilian utilities for income and growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Does Mark-to-Market Matter That Much?
• Leadership Matters: 'Less Worse' Ain't Bad

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says if you don't want to wait for a pullback, look abroad for the next leg or find values at home.

What do you do when everyone knows we have come up too far, too fast; no one knows who is actually buying; and we are going into earnings season?

What do you do when the animal spirits are taking up the market and yet other than a handful companies -- Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) (Cramer's Take), Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX) (Cramer's Take), Corning (NYSE: GLW) (Cramer's Take), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) (Cramer's Take) and Taiwan Semi (NYSE: TSM) (Cramer's Take) -- almost all companies that have spoken during the "off-season" earnings reports have been dismal?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: So you missed the recent run -- now what?

Cramer on BloggingStocks: So you missed the recent run -- now what? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.