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.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Targeted Genetics, Tesco and The9 were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Rodman initiated Targeted Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ: TGEN) with a Market Perform rating, citing lack of key near-term drivers and the absence of definitive proof-of-concept data for its lead arthritis program.
• ING assumed Tesco Plc (OTC: TSCDY) with a Buy rating, citing the company's growing international business.
• Piper initiated The9 Limited (NASDAQ: NCTY) with a Neutral rating and $21 target, citing limited visibility around the company's FY08 and FY09 game releases and a higher risk profile than peers.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Baird initiated Gladstone Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: GLAD) with a Neutral rating and $19 target.
• Goldman initiated Brazilian banks with an Attractive view, starting Banco Bradesco SA (NYSE: BBD) with a Buy rating, Banco Itau Holding Financeira SA (NYSE: ITU) with a Neutral rating and Unibanco-Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros (NYSE: UBB) with a Sell rating.