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.

"My favorite stock for 2011 is Almaden Minerals (AAU), a Vancouver-based mining exploration company," notes Mark Skousen -- one of the top performing advisors in last year's Top Picks report.

This year, the editor of Forecasts & Strategies notes, "Almaden is rapidly going from 'small cap' ($253 million) to 'large cap' and may even be bought out soon by a major.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Almaden Minerals (AAU)

Top Picks 2011: Almaden Minerals (AAU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We do have a select number of speculative stocks and growth funds in our portfolio; among them, my favorite is Ford Motor Co. (F)," says Mark Skousen.

The editor of Forecasts & Strategies explains, "The stock, which has been my favorite speculation for 2010, reported another blockbuster quarter.

"Its second-quarter earnings blew past Wall Street estimates last month and the stock now is up more than 20% from our recommended price.

Continue reading Driving with Ford (F): A Favorite Speculation

Driving with Ford (F): A Favorite Speculation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Energized Gains: Pipelines and Trusts

Energized Gains: Pipelines and Trusts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mark Skousen Meets Warren Buffett

Mark Skousen Meets Warren Buffett originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Energy prices are beginning to firm up again. And one opportunity we see in this sector is NuStar Energy (NS); there has been heavy insider buying here," says Mark Skousen.

In his High Income Alert, the advisor explains, "Insiders have purchased 622,000 shares of NuStar during the last six months. They have sold exactly none.

"Last month, for example, Director William Greehey of NuStar purchased 350,000 shares at $65.55, an investment of nearly $19.8 million. Directors Rodman Patton, Dan Hill and Jesse Bates have bought lately, too.

Continue reading NuStar (NS): Insiders Are Energized over Utility

NuStar (NS): Insiders Are Energized over Utility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading John Bogle: A 'Vanguard' Shares His Advice

John Bogle: A 'Vanguard' Shares His Advice originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 May 2010 13:45:00 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.

"Ford Motor Co. (F) is in the driver's seat when it comes to innovation, cutting costs, and building global demand," says Mark Skousen.

In his Forecasts & Strategies, which this month is celebrating its 30th anniversary, he cautions, "I've decided to recommend Ford as the best turnaround speculation for 2010. Bear in mind that this is highly speculative, and not recommended for conservative investors."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Ford Motor (F)

Top Picks for 2010: Ford Motor (F) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Stocks have struggled lately after their huge recovery; still, I continue to see opportunities in the market, and I especially like Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN)," says Mark Skousen in The Turnaround Alert.

"Urban Outfitters, the apparel retailer, after it beat Wall Street analysts' estimates. Two years ago, the stock was selling for $37 a share.

"But today, it's selling for nearly half that. During the deep recession, retailers have seen sales drop as consumers cut back on spending for clothing and other discretionary purchases. As a result, retail apparel stocks fell sharply.

Continue reading Urban Outfitters (URBN): Dressed for success?

Urban Outfitters (URBN): Dressed for success? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Asia is booming again, and one industry that is growing like wildfire is 'green' tech in China," says Mark Skousen. In The Turnaround Alert, he eyes China Green Agriculture (AMEX: CGA)."

"Urban population and demand for energy is exploding, causing pollution and a reduction in per capita arable land to feed 1.4 billion Chinese.

"One way to profit is to buy China Green Agriculture, one of the fastest-growing agricultural technology companies in China.

Continue reading China Green (CGA): Agriculture and tech

China Green (CGA): Agriculture and tech originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:20:00 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.

"I've followed Gladstone Capital (NASDAQ: GLAD) for many years," says Mark Skousen in Forecasts & Strategies. Here, he chooses the business development company as a top idea for 2009.

"Gladstone is a business development company (BDC) run by the 'father of BDCs,' David Gladstone. Gladstone is a conservative investor who is careful in his lending.

"His investment company, Gladstone Capital, specializes in debt investments in small- and medium-sized companies that seek additional funding, recapitalization, debt reduction, and short-term bridge financing.

"Unlike other BDCs, Gladstone always has been prudent in its lending. It has no exposure to subprime mortgages and no exposure to home building -- but it is being hurt by U.S. recession fears.

"Though the shares are volatile, I think the stock is dirt cheap, having suffered a sharp sell-off due to the deep recession and financial crisis.

"It is off 70% so far this year, which is far too much, in my judgment. With any kind of economic recovery under an Obama administration, I expect Gladstone to be back in good form.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Gladstone Capital (GLAD)

Top Stock Picks '09: Gladstone Capital (GLAD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Writing from Japan, while speaking at an economic conference, Mark Skousen looks to opportunities in Japan's stock market for his latest buy.

In his top notch trading service, The Hedge Fund Trader Alert, he says, "Surveying the landscape in Japan, two things are perfectly clear: the market and the currency here are both extremely cheap."

"The Nikkei 225 reached 40,000 back in 1989. Today, almost 20 years later, it is around 12,600 -- more than two-thirds lower.

"The yen also is cheap, due in part to ultra-low interest rates. Many international investors are playing a dangerous game, borrowing money in yen at low rates and lending it out in other currencies at higher rates in order to earn 'the spread.'

"This works fine until the yen begins to surge. Then there will be massive buying of the Japanese currency, as traders rush to cover their bets. That day is not here yet. But when it arrives, we may see one of the most dramatic currency surges ever witnessed in modern financial markets.

"A jump in the yen, however, would not be good for Japan's largest companies. Most of them -- such as Toyota, Honda, Sony, Canon and Mitsubishi -- are major exporters.

Continue reading Mark Skousen seeks "Wisdom" from Japan

Mark Skousen seeks "Wisdom" from Japan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.