This post is part of Japan: A Special Report for Investors.

"Japan's tsunami has struck worldwide," says Richard Moroney, the editor of Dow Theory Forecasts, which has maintained a model portfolio of blue chip stocks for over 50 years.

Here, he reviews a number of the top buy recommendations in the newsletter's portfolios to determine the potential risk posed by the recent tragic developments in Japan.

Stocks cited as "Focus List Buys" are are those issues that the service expect to significantly outperform the market over the next 12 months.

"Buoyed by strong operating momentum, the technology sector earns high marks in our Quadrix® stock- rating system," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "Our favorite picks in the tech sector -Altera (ALTR), Apple (AAPL), IBM (IBM) and Texas Instruments (TXN) - share some favorable qualities.

➤ December-quarter results: All four topped consensus estimates, producing double-digit growth in per- share profits. Revenue also exceeded expectations.

"On our proprietary Quadrix® rating system, ExxonMobil (XOM) has steadily advanced over the past year," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "Out of a possible 100, the oil giant earns an Overall score of 96 -- compared to just 51 in January 2010. As such, we rate the stock a long-term buy.

"Meanwhile, the shares recently rallied to their highest level since January 2009 after Exxon said it earned $1.85 excluding special items in the December quarter, up 46% and $0.22 above the consensus estimate.

"About 3,600 companies trade on exchanges operated by NASDAQ OMX Group (NDAQ), where an average of 8.8 billion shares changes hands each day," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "The company controls about two-thirds of trades involving NASDAQ securities and half of NYSE securities. It also holds about one-third of the U.S. options-trading market.

"Over the last five years, NASDAQ's revenue rose at an annualized rate of 32%, with operating cash flow up 43%.

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.

"Aflac (AFL) represents a top year-ahead pick based on its solid operating momentum and modest valuation," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "In our proprietary ranking system (known as Quadrix), the stock earns an Overall score of 99.

"Research firm Gartner recently projected PC shipments would rise 14% this year and 16% next year, down from a September forecast of 18% growth in both periods," notes Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "Intel (INTC), which provides microprocessors for 81% of PCs, is highly dependent on computer sales. However, the semiconductor giant's share price already reflects plenty of pessimism.

"Because major U.S. pharmaceutical companies face patent expirations on blockbuster drugs, consensus earnings expectations for the group are modest," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "One exception is Abbott Laboratories (ABT); Wall Street expects to increase earnings at a 10% annual rate over the next five years.

"Yet the market appears to discount that outlook, and the stock's price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG) of 1.2 is well below its peers.

"While gold prices have surged 90% since year-end 2006, shares of Newmont Mining (NEM) still trade below their 2006 high of nearly $63 per share," observes Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts, a blue-chip focused newsletter that has been published since 1946, explains, "Newmont generates more than 80% of its revenue from the sale \of gold, and the metal's recent strength has pushed earnings and cash flow sharply higher. As a result, the stock has seldom looked better under our "growth-at-a-good-price" approach.

"Under the direction of the swashbuckling CEO Larry Ellison, Oracle (ORCL) has grown into the biggest player in the $19 billion database market," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts -- a newsletter that has been published for over 50 years -- he explains, "Ellison enjoys baiting his competition. In March, he mocked SAP. for its recent turnover at CEO; and last fall he issued a direct challenge to IBM in a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal.

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.

Dow Theory Forecasts is one of the most venerable players in the financial newsletter community; the service has been published continuously for well over five decades.

Editor Richard Moroney looks to BMC Software (BMC) as his top pick for 2010. He explains, "BMC develops products that run corporate data centers, which house critical computer systems."

"Baxter International (BAX) benefits from a robust balance sheet, solid operating momentum, and rising earnings estimates," says blue chip advisor Richard Moroney in Dow Theory Forecasts.

The advisor explains, "The first company to commercially prepare intravenous treatments, Baxter has manufactured and distributed medical products since 1931. It primarily works with blood and plasma, a business with recession-resistant tendencies.

"Its BioScience unit produces clotting agents for hemophilia and biotech drugs that treat both immune deficiencies and cancer.

"Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) has fattened itself up by swallowing more than 50 companies in the past five years," says Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecasts, he suggests, "Oracle has proved itself capable of delivering predictable earnings even during tough times by squeezing higher returns out of its assets, including those inherited via $35 billion worth of acquisitions over the past half-decade."

"While some fear the software giant is choking on its latest meal (Sun Microsystems), the deal makes sense operationally.

"At 12 times trailing earnings, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) trades at a 21% discount to its three-year average valuation and looks cheaper than other U.S. computer giants," says blue chip advisor Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecast -- a newsletter that has been published for over 5 decades -- he looks at the firm's diversified position and the reasons behind his "long-term buy" rating on the shares.

"For a company that chose its name via a coin toss, Hewlett-Packard takes a deliberate approach to dealing with trouble; its founders designed their first factory so it could be turned into a grocery store if the technology business failed to grow.

"Investors considering high-yield stocks should consider financial strength; in our quantitative model, Quadrix, we assess profit margins, interest coverage, and debt levels," says Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecasts, a newsletter that has been published for over 5 decades -- he looks at two stocks that score high in this area: drug manufacturer, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and defense industry player, General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Here, the advisor reviews the two companies.

"AstraZeneca's operating cash flow jumped 24% in the first half of 2009, allowing the company to retire $3 billion in debt since the end of 2008.