"Our latest "Bargain Stock of the Month" feature is NextEra Energy (NEE), which changed its name in June from the FPL Group," notes Vita Nelson, who notes that the company changed its name to "better reflect the company's scale as one of the largest and cleanest energy providers in the nation."

The editor of MoneyPaper's Direct Investing exlains, "Its regulated utility, Florida Power & Light, provides electricity to 4.4 million customers. Its unregulated unit sells power across the United States.

"Over a third of this unit's operation sources electric power using windmills, many of which are located in high-wind areas, such as the Texas panhandle.

Utility NextEra Energy (NEE) (formerly FPL Group), first discussed here at a price of $43.30 on March 3, 2009, appears to have put in a bottom at $45.

The company changed its name in May to better reflect the company's clean energy provider status.

Further, wind power investments and tax credits should provide a boost to earnings in 2010, as a slow recovery in Florida's housing sector and economy weighs on residential electric power revenue.

We can make this short and sweet: buying utilities pays off in many ways that other investments do not. Utilities pay regular dividend distributions that are higher than most stocks, bonds, Treasuries, and certificates of deposit. In these volatile times, utility stocks add stability to your portfolio and moderate the wild swings. And, here is the kicker that everyone but day traders will appreciate: long term returns beat all of the major indices over time.

The following charts and stocks will further make the case.

Two noted growth and income advisors -- Vita Nelson and Mark Skousen -- both recommend Florida utility provider, FPL (FPL).

In his High Income Alert, Skousen says, "In celebration of Earth Day, Florida Power & Light announced that its power generation fleet delivered 35% cleaner power than the industry average in 2009 -- a new record in clean generation for the utility." In her Direct Investing newsletter, Nelson selects the utility as her latest featured stock holding.

The stock of utility FPL Group (FPL), which I first wrote about on March 3, 2009, at a price of $43.30, has retreated in the past six months, but the business model is still preferred. Here's why:

FPL appears to have declined on investor sentiment that the economic recovery in the company's key power market, Florida, will lag the U.S. recovery, and on a considerably lower-than-expected electric rate increase, $75 million as opposed to FPL's $1 billion request, from the Florida Public Service Commission. Hence, the exit of some short-term investors was to be expected.

There has been little time to write lately because I have been wheeling and dealing in my investment world. However, I thought I would share one of the trades I did this week that seems like free money to me, and although the opportunity has faded a little I might do it again and you might want to examine this trade, too.

At the market open on Tuesday March 9, a good-til-canceled order filled -- selling to open Citigroup Inc. (C) January 2012 'puts' at a strike price of $7.50 -- paying $4.05. This transaction is commonly called a "naked put". The return on investment is 59% over the remaining 22-month period.

This is nuts because my break even position is $3.45 -- 20 cents a share less than it was the time of the trade and 60 cents less than the $4.05 (ironic isn't it) Citigroup is trading at now, as I type away.

Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded FMC Technologies (FMC) to outperform from sector perform. The firm upgraded shares based on expectations that subsea order flow and backlog will be significantly higher than previous forecasts. The firm has a $70 target on shares.
• Citigroup upgraded ONEOK Partners LP (OKS) to buy from hold due to valuation and maintains a $65 price target on the stock.
• Needham upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) to buy from hold following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $31 target on the stock.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Under Armour (UA) to equal weight from underweight, citing valuation. The firm raised its target to $27 from $23.
• EOG Resources (EOG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• FPL Group (FPL) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Novo Nordisk (NVO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

It goes without saying that a preferred sector here is the electric power generation/utilities sector, and that's doubly true in an uncertain economic landscape. Hence, I'm reiterating my buy rating for FPL Group (FPL), first recommended on March 3, 2009, at a price of $43.30. If you bought FPL in March, you're up about 20%.

FPL Group's safety-plus-growth story is obvious enough. FPL provides electricity to about 4.5 million customers in Florida, covering nearly all of Florida's eastern seaboard, including the Gold Coast.

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.

Vita Nelson is well-known as a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans. With the caveat that she always recommends portfolio diversification, the editor of The MoneyPaper looks to utility stock FPL (FPL) as a top selection for 2010.

Nelson explains, "We make a point of recommending that people don't pin their hopes on just one stock (which might underachieve in the short run).

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded FPL Group (FPL) to buy from hold on valuation and recommends buying the stock into the staff recommendation. The firm raised its target on shares to $58 from $55.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Smithfield Foods (SFD) to buy from hold as it believes the company's fundamentals and export demand outlook are improving. The firm raised its target on shares to $20 from $12.
• Credit Suisse upgraded T. Rowe Price (TROW) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $60 from $55 based on strong net inflows and potential operating leverage.
• Microchip (MCHP) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Toll Brothers (TOL) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Ascent Solar (ASTI) was upgraded to hold from underperform at Jefferies.

Rare is the day you should sell an electric power generation play. And, by extension, pull-backs in the aforementioned companies often represent Buy opportunities, which is why I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), first recommended on March 3, 2009 at a price of $43.30.

With FPL, the safety-plus-growth story is obvious enough. FPL provides electricity to about 4.5 million customers in Florida, covering nearly all of Florida's eastern seaboard, including the Gold Coast.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as it believes a more aggressive strategy will lead to the company regaining market share. Citi raised its target on shares to $66 from $54.
  
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Allscripts (NASDAQ:MDRX) to Overweight from Neutral after learning the company signed a large contract with North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital. Piper now sees upside to estimates and raised its target on shares to $22.50 from $14.
  
• UBS upgraded Amedisys (NASDAQ:AMED) to Buy from Neutral following a review of the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare proposal, which they view as "benign." The firm raised its target to $57 from $46.
• Daimler (NYSE:DAI) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.
  
• Boston Private (NASDAQ:BPFH) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• E-Trade (NASDAQ:ETFC) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

The Sunshine State may be down but it's hardly out. I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for FPL Group (NYSE: FPL) first recommended on March 3, 2009 at a price of $43.30.

Here, the safety-plus-growth story continues. FPL provides electricity to about 4.5 million customers, covering nearly all of Florida's eastern seaboard, including the Gold Coast. The FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for FPL are $4.22 to $4.75.

Analyst upgrades:

• JPMorgan upgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Overweight from Underweight to reflect performance and sales improvements, as well as benefits from the weakening U.S. dollar. The firm has a $94 target on the stock.
• Oppenheimer upgraded FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) to Outperform from Perform after channel checks indicated orders are recovering. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $22.
• KeyBanc upgraded Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK) to Buy from Hold citing the company's MRAP-ATV contract win, which they view as a "game changer." The firm has a $30 target on the stock.
• Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Ternium (NYSE: TX) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Cathay General (NASDAQ: CATY) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley.

What are the best buys among dividend-paying issues? In his Dividend Detective newsletter, Harry Domash focuses on for income-generating ideas for long-term investors.

Here, the advisor reviews some of his latest buys among master limited partnerships, preferreds and yield-oriented closed-end funds.

"Among energy partnerships, we're adding two new picks to the portfolio with a buy rating. First, NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS), currently yielding 8.4%, operates crude oil and refined product pipelines and associated facilities.

"NuStar recently acquired asphalt refining and terminal facilities, a business that's expected to boom once the government supported highway construction projects kick in.