"Generic drug mak Teva Pharmaceutical, Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) delivered respectable earnings results," says Jack Adamo, who added the stock his Insiders Plus model portfolio.

"The company's earnings were up 4% on a proforma non-GAAP basis. In this case, that's the correct measurement. Net GAAP earnings were up tremendously, but aren't really representative of normal business factors.

"Although Teva gets much of its earnings from its proprietary multiple sclerosis drug, Copaxone, its primary business is generic drugs. That segment is inherently lumpy because profitability is greatly affected by which generic drugs it brings to market before any other generic company.

This post is part of a 12-article feature that can be read here: Today's best income ideas.

The latest buy recommendation from Jack Adamo is a leveraged ETF that rises in value when long-term Treasury bonds fall in price.

In Insiders Plus newsletter, he looks at ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury Bond (NYSE: TBT), noting, "Given that the government is printing money by the carload with nothing to back it, inflation has to rebound at some point."

"Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU), the largest private market coal firm in the world, had a great 2008," says Jack Adamo who has recently added the stock to the buy list of Insiders Plus.

"Peabody has extensive holdings in the U.S. and Australia, the latter serving the China/Asia Pacific markets. It sells steam coal for heating and utility use, and coking coal for steel making.

"Peabody has had some decent iInsider buying in the last few months -- about 30,000 shares -- not enough to get too excited about, but encouraging. There were also 27,000 options exercised, most of it at very low prices, for which the holder took no profits.

"That's also a good sign, particularly since those exercises come with a tax bill, and shares weren't sold to pay it. It implies faith the stock will rise.

"Although I'm very leery of the market now, I'll continue to buy gradually when specific stocks are attractive," says Jack Adamo. In Insiders Plus, he looks to a new idea: Avon Products (NYSE: AVP).

"Avon's stock got whacked when fellow paint sellers, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden, guided earnings lower, and analysts lowered earnings expectations for Avon to about $1.90 for 2009.

"They're probably still too optimistic, but I'm buying the stock anyway. We owned Avon for almost 3 years, and sold it for $43.47 in September for a 69% profit.

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.

"My pick for the best potential gainer for 2009 is Seaspan Corporation (NYSE: SSW), a company that leases container ships to international shipping companies," says Jack Adamo.

In his Insiders Plus newsletter, he offers an in-depth analysis of what he consider the perceived risks and the real risks that have "pummeled" the stock. The advisor explains, "The stock has been pummeled for five reasons, only one of which is valid:

• The whole market is down.
• The Baltic Dry Shipping Index dropped to its lowest level in years.
• Analysts fear shipping companies may default on their leases in a weak economy.
• Analysts are afraid ship lessors will have their ships repossessed by lenders on the basis of falling market values of their ships. Some debt covenants permit that.
• The company has reported horrible earnings the last two quarters.

"Five pretty scare reasons. Why would I consider such a stock? Here's why:

"Although I am not a big fan of either technology stocks or Chinese stocks, bear markets do create opportunities -- such as Sohu.com. (NASDAQ: SOHU), says Jack Adamo.

In his Jack Adamo's Insiders Plus newsletter, the advisor reviews Sohu.com, the second-largest internet search engine company in China.

"In recent quarters, it has made 42% of its revenues from search and display advertising; the rest comes from online gaming and wireless services. Earnings in the September quarter grew by more than fourfold year-over-year.

"With the Olympics over and the economy slowing to an expected GDP rate of 7%, earnings growth at Sohu is expected to slow as well. The last few quarters bear that out. But even in the slowing environment, earnings were up 14% compared to the June quarter.

"For a Chinese stock, this may be considered to be a relatively slow grower, but the price is right. Selling at less than 10-times earnings, you'd be hard pressed to find a better buy among well-established Chinese companies.

Jack Adamo has been a bull on U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and is now recommending doubling the position that he holds in his model portfolio. Here's the latest from his Insiders Plus newsletter.

"US Bancorp is accepting $6.6 billion in new capital from the TARP program. Tier One capital will rise from 8.5% to 11.4% as a result of the new deal.

"The company will issue preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury at an annual rate of 5% for five years, increasing to 9% per year thereafter if the company has not redeemed the shares. I doubt they'll go unredeemed.

"The Treasury Department would also receive 10-year warrants entitling it to buy common stock of U.S. Bancorp with a value equal to 15% of the amount of the preferred stock issuance.

"With Tier One capital already at 8.5%, USB obviously didn't need the Fed infusion. It said it saw it as a good opportunity to get cheap capital with which to take advantage of any acquisition opportunities. I agree with that.

"Those terms are very good. Compare them to the arm-twisting terms some companies have paid, e.g., the 10%, plus warrants, that Buffett charged GE. Incidentally, Buffett added 3 million shares of USB to his holding in Q3.

"I said about 18 months ago, before the market carnage started, that U.S. Bancorp was the single stock that I felt most comfortable with. That hasn't changed.

"With a dividend of 6.5%, a great balance sheet, and opportunities to take business from weaker banks in the years ahead, this is a truly safe place to put money for solid total returns for years to come."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

"The financial sector got a boost after our Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), a buy recommendation in our model income portfolio, reported better-than-expected earnings," notes Jack Adamo.

The editor of Insiders Plus, explains, " While Wells, like virtually every other bank, is dragging its heels a bit on recognizing losses on bad mortgages, there were elements of the report that were unquestionably great.

"In its latest quarterly report, Wells Fargo reported:

• Revenues were up 16% year-over-year.
• Average loans were up 18% year-over-year.
• Net interest margin was 4.92%, up 23 basis points from Q1
• Net interest income increased 21% year-over-year.

"The fact that Wells is one of the few banks that is still well-capitalized enough to write loans was a large contributor to its increase in revenues.

Leading advisor Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus, reports that a Goldman Sachs analyst has chosen one of the stocks on his newsletter's buy list -- ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) -- as his top pick in the energy sector.

"There was an extremely interesting piece recently in Barron's by the oil analyst at Goldman Sachs who predicted $100 oil back in late 2004. We'd been buying energy stocks for almost a year at that point, but, although I expected oil prices to rise, I had no idea they'd go this high.

"In any case, the analyst, whose name is Arjun Murti, said he expects oil to reach $150 to $200 sometime within the next 24 months. The low end of that range is only a Middle East incident away, but the high end still seems like a reach, especially given weakening economic conditions.

"Beauty is as beauty does, the saying goes, and Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP) has delivered a beautiful earnings report," says Jack Adamo in his industry-leading Insiders Plus. Here's his latest.

"Despite a 14% increase in advertising (or perhaps, because of it) the company delivered EPS up 26%. In North America, the only underperforming region, revenues continued their slow downward slide. But active representatives increased for the first time in ages, which may brighten the future on the company's home turf.

"International sales continued to soar. Latin America was 19% higher in local currencies, and 32% higher after translation into the American Peso, also known as the U.S. Dollar. In Central & Eastern Europe, first-quarter revenue rose 17% (6% in local currency). Revenue in China grew 29% (19% local). Only Japan dragged things down a bit with its 2% gain.

The model portfolio of Insiders Plus gains 48% last year; here, editor Jack Adamo reviews two of his portfolio holdings -- both bank stocks being accumulated by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

"U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) reported a slight decrease in Q1 earnings of 62¢ per share versus 63¢ last year; the shares rose 2.8% the next day. Compared to the disastrous results of its peers, this small decline in earnings was a home run.

"That's a testament to the company's savvy managers. USB steered clear of the toxic problems that choked most banks. Only 2.7% of its loans are subprime.

"Warren Buffett's Berkshire-Hathaway continues to buy the stock steadily. Recent SEC filings show that in the fourth quarter of 2007 Berkshire increased its share of the Minneapolis-based bank by 3 million shares to a total of 75 million.

"This represents 4.4% of its shares outstanding, and up tremendously from its stake of 23 million shares just a few years ago. The Wizard of Omaha knows what he likes and why he likes it.

"Meanwhile, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) reported Q1 earnings of 60¢ per share down 9% year-over-year, but up 46% from the December quarter. Like USB, Fargo shares continue to be accumulated at Berkshire Hathaway.

"The stock is a solid long-term buy, with good prospects of steadily raising its 4.2% dividend. It has capital appreciation potential to boot, especially after the housing hangover abates."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

"With its CEO recently buying $10 million of shares, PepsiAmericas Inc. (NYSE: PAS) has to be considered one of the most credible Insider stories in quite some time," notes Jack Adamo.

Here, in his Insiders Plus newsletter, the advisor -- who specializes in assessing situations in which corporate insiders are purchasing stock -- he looks at the world's second-largest Pepsi bottler.

"When I was a kid, a Pepsi was a dime; today, it's about $1.50 for the same size bottle. So, forgive me if I laugh myself silly when analysts say Pepsi bottlers are in trouble due to cost inflation.

"The price of the product has gone up at a compound annual rate of 5.6% per year for 50 years. Is this year going to kill it? I think not. Nor does CEO, Rober Pohlad whose recent purchase was done through a family-owned holding company.

"It was not a huge buy in relation to his holdings -- it increased his stake in the company from 9.6% to 9.9% -- but $10 million is $10 million. Do that a few times, and pretty soon it starts adding up to real money. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

"The stock has fallen this year from $36 to $26, which is about where he made his recent buys. After a blowout 2007, the company guided down expectations for 2008, citing economic weakness. The stock quickly tanked.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"A top speculative idea for 2008 is Calgary-based Penn West Energy Trust (NYSE: PWE)," says Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus. "We would consider this stock a 'smart money' buy.

"Commodities guru Jim Rogers said four years ago that energy prices would go a lot higher and stay there longer than anyone supposed. We believed him, and loaded up on energy, with spectacular results. We're up 45% this year alone.

"The thesis still stands. Within five years Mexico, our second largest oil supplier, will be a net importer of oil. Prices will remain high.

"Penn West Energy Trust is out of favor because Canadian tax laws change in 2009, and it faces corporate taxes. But with the units currently yielding 15%, even a few quarters of lower payouts in a recession, and a 30% tax bite in 2009, the units will still yield near 10%.

"With its long-lived reserves, the company has good growth prospects to boot. Great for current income or long-term total return. Buy up to $33.50."

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Want to take advantage of the subprime debacle, but you're too frightened or don't know how?" asks Jack Adamo in his Insiders Plus. "The ultimate insider, Warren Buffett, does.

"Every time the market has a sector meltdown, the Wizard of Omaha swoops down like a hawk and picks off great bargains. He made tons of money for Berkshire Hathaway B (NYSE: BRK.b) investors after the tech crash by buying 'junk bonds' of strong telecom companies he knew would survive -- and tech isn't even an area Buffett knows well.

"Financial stocks are his sweet spot. He'll snatch up great bargains in distressed securities in the next few quarters.

"Then, in 2008 or 2009, the company will deliver fabulous earnings, and the stock price will shoot up again. Buy Berkshire-Hathaway Class-B, preferably on pullbacks below $4,200. Don't let the price scare you. The shares are cheap on a P/E or price/earnings-to-growth basis. I consider the stock a top conservative buy for 2008."

"Although land-based drillers are very out of favor right now, Bronco Drilling is on solid ground," says Jack Adamo's Insiders Plus of Bronco Drilling Company Inc. (NASDAQ: BRNC). The advisor explains, "There are two reasons for the land drilling sector being out of favor.

"First, the biggest finds are now under the sea. Particularly in the U.S., most of the big, accessible deposits on land are played out. Still, there are plenty of pockets of economically viable deposits to be found, especially in natural gas.

"The second reason these drillers are out of favor now is that natural gas prices are low, and some producers, mostly the smaller ones, are holding off on new drilling until pricing firms. Day rates have fallen 12% year-to-date.

"As winter approaches, I expect utilization rates to rise, and day rates to follow. If we have a bad hurricane or two in the Gulf of Mexico, things could really kick into high gear, as producers look inland while submersible platforms are repaired.