"This is a time for defensive measures, and one defensive stock idea is Telefonica (TEF); based in Madrid, Spain, Telefonica is a world telecom leader, with more than 280 million customers in 25 countries," notes Mark Skousen.

The editor of Forecasts & Strategies explains, "The company has a particular emphasis on Latin America. Telefonica offers landlines, cell phones and services, network leasing, cable and satellite television, and broadband services. It also is expanding rapidly in Asia in a partnership with China Unicom.

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.

"Back in the days when Colombia was a political and military battleground, and leftist rebels regularly bombed the oil pipelines, investing in Colombian oil was only for people prepared to take enormous risks," says Frida Ghitis.

The contributing editor to Global Investing explains, "Now the landscape has changed considerably. Indeed our top stock idea for 2011 is now Columbian oil firm Ecopetrol (EC).

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.

"To find strong dividend paying stocks, we apply two primary tests; and one stock that passes both of these tests -- and ranks our as top investment idea for the coming year -- is CPFL Energia (CPL), one of Brazil's major power utilities," says income specialist Neil George.

The editor of The Pay Me Strategy explains, "I focus on stocks that will grow your retirement wealth during good times and bad.

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.

"Brazil is my favorite emerging country, and we're going to Brazil for our top pick for 2011: GOL Linhas Aereas Intelligentes (GOL)," says Ian Wyatt.

The editor of Top Stock Insights explains, "The rise of Brazil's middle class is good for airlines. And its fast growing emerging economy creates an ideal environment for discount airlines like GOL to set up shop and grow like crazy.

"Iron ore miner Vale (VALE) turned in outstanding results in the third quarter, with a 110 percent increase in revenue, thanks to a more than doubling in iron ore prices this year," notes Ian Wyatt.

The editor of Global Commodity Investing explains, "Iron ore prices, which are set quarterly, have since declined 10 percent, so the company won't rack up such impressive numbers again in this quarter. The weak dollar will also have an impact on the company's margins.

"Still, given China's continued strong expansion, as well as those of other emerging markets-and limited expected supply additions, iron ore prices are likely to remain high for some time to come.

"Just four months ago, Europe was in an awful tailspin; but buying European stocks is exactly what I recommended," says Lou Basenese.

The contributing editor to Investment U explains, "Why? Because I'm a contrarian investor! And one of my favorite beaten-down stocks is Telefonica (TEF), the biggest telephone company in Spain.

"When the investing herd moves in unison, I always look for a reason to do the opposite. As long as the fundamentals warrant it, of course.

"Our latest pick, MercadoLibre (MELI), takes us to Argentina, not a country known for its stable political climate," says international specialist Nicholas Vardy.

The editof of The Global Bull Market Alert explains, "But MercadoLibre is more of a bet on e-commerce and on Latin America as a whole, rather than on Argentina in particular. It's best to think of MercadoLibre as the "eBay of Latin America."

"Resource-rich, politically stable and increasingly prosperous, Chile is an attractive play on commodities and growing wealth in emerging markets," explains Mark Salzinger, editor of The Investor's ETF Report.

Chile is also a favorite investment position of Nicholas Vardy, editor of The Global Bull Market Alert, who notes, "Thanks to its fiscal prudence, its lack of a domestic housing bubble, and its sizeable wealth reserves, Chile has weathered the current global economic meltdown better than most countries."

Here, the two advisors assess the longer-term opportunity in iShares MSCI Chile (NYSE: ECH), an exchange-traded fund.

"Well managed, dominant firms use downturns to become more powerful -- and that's definitely what Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) is up to," says Roger Conrad in The Utility Forecaster.

"Incorporated in 1924 as a unit of US-based ITT, the Spain-based company now serves 47 million customers in its home country, 150 million in 14 Latin American nations and 45 million elsewhere in Europe.

"Thus far in the recession, diversity and dominance of fast-growing markets has kept Telefonica growing. Overall global customer rolls increased by 15.2% through the third quarter 2008.

"Based in Mexico, América Móvil (NYSE: AMX) is the largest wireless service provider in Latin America," notes wireless sector expert Nikhil Hutheesing.

The editor of The Forbes Wireless Stock Watch notes that the company's largest stakeholder is billionaire Carlos Slim who holds a 30% stake. Here's the advisors's bullish assessment for the company.

"AMX, which was spun out of Mexico's Telmex in 2000, operates out of Mexico City, but only about 30% of its business is actually in Mexico. It has has been growing rapidly mostly by acquiring troubled Latin American operators that took on too much debt during the telecom bubble.

"Móvil then consolidates operations, changes management as necessary, and makes operations more efficient and profitable.

"With 3G networks in place, América Móvil will be able to boost revenue and profit by selling more data services. It's already offering 3G service in Mexico and plans to spend another $4 billion to upgrade its wireless networks to 3G in five or so more countries this year.

"While U.S. banks have struggled amid the credit and housing crises, Credicorp (NYSE: BAP) has excelled," notes John Reese, who assesses stocks based on the strategies of various well-known and time-tested gurus.

Here, the editor of the Validea newsletter looks at the Peru-based banking firm commerical banker and explains how it "passes the test" for four leading guru strategies: Peter Lynch, Martin Zweig, the Motley Fools, and William O'Neill.

"Credicorp's main subsidiary, Banco de Credito del Peru, actually grew its mortgage business 8.2% in the third quarter of 2007 (the most recent quarter for which data is available) as Peruvians' purchasing power continued to increase.

"My Peter Lynch-based strategy considers Credicorp a 'fast-grower' because of its 42.44% growth rate (based on the average of the three-, four-, and five-year earnings per share figures).

"Lynch famously used the P/E/Growth ratio to identify growth stocks selling on the cheap. By dividing Credicorp's 19.6 P/E ratio by that growth rate, we get a P/E/G of 0.46, which falls into my Lynch-based model's best-case category (below 0.5).

Validea is a fascinating newsletter that assesses stocks based on the known criteria of "legendary" stock investors, such as Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch.

Here, editor John Reese reviews Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) -- a Spain-based telecom firm with operates in Europe and Latin America -- based on the strategy of quantitative analyst James O'Shaughnessy.

"James O'Shaughnessy has noted that 'disciplined implementation of active strategies is the key to performance.' He should know; his study of 44 years of stock market data is one of the most extensive ever of the market.

"The system he devised based on that research produced average back-tested returns of 22% per year for those 44 years. At times like these, it's more important than ever to heed his advice, and keep your emotions in check by focusing on fundamentals.

"Telefonica (NYSE: TEF), based in Madrid, Telefonica is involved in the communications, information, and entertainment arenas in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The firm has a presence in more than 20 countries and more than 218 million customers.