"BHP Billiton Ltd. ADR (NYSE: BHP) is well placed in coal, oil, gas, and uranium markets, making it a solid play in any investment environment," says global specialist Yiannis Mostrous.

In The New World 3.0, the advisor explains, "BHP Billiton is the only major listed company to that boasts such a diversified energy portfolio.

"Recently, analysts have unleashed an avalanche of upgrades for companies in the mining sector, coinciding with higher price forecasts for a wide range of metals.

"The main reasons for the recent upsurge in optimism regarding miners are strong economic growth in China and an anticipated restocking of materials in developed nations.

"Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) has set a new standard for silver resources; simply put, its boasts the largest published in-ground silver resource of any publicly-traded silver company," says mining stock specialist Brien Lundin.

In The Gold Newsetter he adds, "We were fortunate over the years that the great idea behind this company was combined with a great management team, as CEO Bob Quartermain is among the best in the business."

"Silver Standard has 1.127 billion ounces in measured and indicated resources, plus another 195 million ounces in proven and probable reserves, and another 456 million ounces in inferred resources.

"Its resources come from a portfolio of properties spanning the globe from Argentina, Peru, and Mexico, to Canada, Chile, the US and Australia. Now the companyis making the transition to production with aggressive development programs on five core properties.

Newmont Mining's (NYSE: NEM) stock continues to meander, despite an average, higher price for gold so far in 2009. The primary culprit? An average, lower price for copper.

Still, with a likely FY2009 revenue gain of 6-7%, I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for the company, first recommended on June 3, 2009 at a price of $46.42.

"Certain commodities are getting hot again; both copper and gold have the wind at their backs in this market, while uranium has also caught our attention," says Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, he explains, "One such company that should gain from a spike in gold, uranium, and copper is Vancouver-based Fronteer Development Group (NYSE: FRG).

"Uranium is a perennially despised substance with a back story in catastrophe, espionage, protests, and nuclear fallout. But this sometimes-sordid history may prove too weak an objection for the outstanding potential in uranium.

The U.S. stock market remains one characterized by considerable risk: It has shown some internal strength recently, but all its takes is one sub-expectations earnings report -- or one public policy error in Washington -- and the bears will be out in force again. Hence, discretion is the order of the day, with a premium placed on companies with demonstrated business models. With this in mind, Freeport-McMoRan is worth a review.

Freeport (NYSE: FCX) is a preferred miner due to its copper and molybdenum operations. Yes, the gold operation is sexy, but the copper operation is the backbone here, with the company boasting about 100 billion pounds of proven and probable copper reserves.

"Stocks are so low that the best are bound to attract bargain-hunters ... eventually," says Timothy Lutts. One such value he highlights in The Cabot Stock of the Month Report is Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD).

He explains, "Royal Gold doesn't own any gold mines. It doesn't mine gold. It doesn't buy gold. And it doesn't sell gold. It simply owns the rights to royalties from a variety of precious metals producers."

"The major benefit of Royal Gold's approach to the gold business is that it involves no capital costs, no operating costs and no legal or environmental liabilities. The major drawback? Well, we haven't found it yet.

"Royal Gold is not large. It has annual revenues of just $69 million and 34 million shares outstanding. However, Royal Gold is the biggest company in the world that derives its revenues solely from precious metal royalties.

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.

"We own several stocks in our portfolio that are selling for less than their book value and with a P/E ratio of less than 5 -- but the prize among bargains is Teck Cominco (NYSE: TCK), our most promising stock for 2009," says Neil Macneale.

In his 2 for 1 newsletter -- which initially buys stocks when they announce 2-for-1 splits, he says, "It would be hard to argue this company is not literally being given away."

Macneale explains, "I bought this stock for the 2-for-1 portfolio over a year and half ago and its stock price has declined by about 90% since then.

"The Canadian mining company produces copper, zinc, gold, and metallurgical coal. All assets are in North America except for most of its copper operations, located in Peru.

"With a PE ratio bouncing between 1 and 2, and a Price-to-Book ratio at around 0.3, you are getting a well-established (1906), well-run asset play for less than its book value, even if existing plant and reserve values are slashed by over 50%.

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.

"Virginia Mines (TSE: VGQ) is an old favorite that is ready to shine again," says Adrian Day. In The Global Analyst, he looks at the firm holding interests in mining entities.

"In the long-odds resource exploration business, Virginia has a better model: it generates prospects which it farms out to partners at an early stage.

"The partners earn in to the properties by spending the exploration dollars. This is the highest-risk part of the exploration process.

"By this model, Virginia is able to maintain its balance sheet and avoid the dilution that bedevils exploration companies. It can then build a portfolio of minority interests in multiple projects which increases its odds of eventual success.

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.

Pamela Aden, in her industry-leading The Aden Forecast expects a rebound for gold-mining stocks. What's her favorite way to play this sector? Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX).

"Most markets fell sharply in 2008 as the financial crisis intensified. Gold shares were especially hard hit as gold and the stock market both declined, increasing the downward pressure on these stocks.

"Currently, all of these markets are bombed out and extremely oversold. This means that stocks and gold are poised to move higher, and gold stocks will indeed benefit on both counts.

"Demand for physical gold has been incredibly strong in the last quarter as prices fell during the credit crisis squeeze. You'll remember that gold, like most assets, was sold during the deleveraging when selling was rampant.

"Weakness in commodities suggests a screaming sign of an overreaction; it's time to take another look at a high-quality, high-yielding commodity stocks such as Southern Copper (NYSE: PCU)," says global investing expert Nick Lanyi.

In his High Yield International, he says, "With mines in Mexico and Peru, Southern Copper ranks #1 in total copper reserves of any publicly traded company, making it almost a pure play on a rebound in the metal's price." Here's his contrarian outlook.

"Southern Copper has enough reserves to continue its current rate of production for the next 80 years without a single expansion or acquisition.

"With copper prices falling, the firm's earnings are taking a hit -- and the dividend has recently been cut. Now that this cut has already been factored into the shares, I think it's a better time to look at the stock than just a few weeks ago.

"Based on 2008 dividends, the stock yields 12.7% at the current price. Even if the dividend comes down more, I look for a yield of 8-9% over the next 12 months.

"Global steel producers are thriving, and their stocks are hitting new highs," note Yiannis Mostrous and Roger S. Conrad, who add, "But the best is yet to come."

In the industry-leading Personal Finance, the two advisors explain, "We're still in the early stage of a truly global bull market cycle for steel, and the companies best positioned to take advantage are headed a lot higher." Here, they look at their "Iron Five."

"As is the case with other building blocks of economic growth, steel is enjoying explosive demand from the developing world. And with the world expanding as never before, steel companies are literally selling as fast as they can produce.

"In the August 2007, we highlighted five first-rate global steel producers. Since then, they've returned an average of 67.4%, versus a decline of 3.7% for the S&P 500.

"The Iron Five are five picks that we believe are ripe for even bigger gains. Like the last group, these stocks are often volatile. They're also vulnerable to the possibility of a general stock market slide and most of all to a dip in global demand growth, particularly from China.

"USEC (NYSE: USU) is the nation's leading supplier of enriched uranium for use in commercial nuclear power plants -- in fact, it is the only supplier," notes value investor Nathan Slaughter.

In Half-Priced Stocks newsletter, he explains, "Low-enriched uranium is commonly used as fuel in nuclear reactors, and no other company in the U.S. provides it, giving USEC a dominant position in a key niche market." Here is his review.

"Its competitive advantage? USEC has the single best competitive advantage there is: zero competition -- at least in the United States. While the firm does have a handful of rivals overseas, it has reaped the benefit of being the lone U.S. supplier.

"The company has also been awarded lucrative contracts to perform work for the U.S. Department of Defense.

"The company also benefits from the nation's longstanding nuclear non-proliferation treaty with Russia. Specifically, it participates in the salvaging of old Soviet nuclear warheads under the 'Megatons to Megawatts' program, which essentially gives the firm a sharply discounted source of uranium.

"Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) is the only truly global steel manufacturer, operating in 60 countries on five continents," says Gordon Pape.

In his Internet Wealth Builder, he explains, "Like all steel companies, ArcelorMittal would be temporarily affected by a world recession but as a long-term international growth stock for your portfolio, it should be a winner."

"When you read through MT's 2007 annual report, you are left with the impression of a company with an insatiable appetite for growth. In just one year, MT entered into a joint venture deal for a steel mill in Saudi Arabia and built a new steel service centre in Poland.

"It also completed the acquisition of Sicarsta in Mexico, thereby creating that country's largest steel producer; received mining concessions in Senegal and purchased a 77% stake in a German gas distribution company to add to its regional energy network.

"It also bought a 51% stake in one of Turkey's largest steel companies and a 70% position in an Italian steel distributor; bought 100% of an Estonian steel galvanizing line.

"Recent weakness in commodities is just a pause to breathe , not the beginning of the end," says Yiannis Mostrous in Vital Resource Investor. His favorite copper play? Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX).

"Most investors aren't able to grasp this commodities cycle's massive potential. The main reason is that few investors are willing to accept the big transformation that's taking place in several emerging market economies, led by China and India.

"We've been advocating this change for quite some time. And after several years of doing so, investors are more receptive. However, they're not totally convinced yet.

"This is the main reason this bull market in emerging markets and commodities has another strong leg up before it reaches all-time highs. But we're far from that point. Meanwhile, copper remains one of our favorite metals.

"Our long-standing recommendation to take advantage of copper's strength is Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. Copper suffered from supply challenges along with investors' underestimation of its potential early in the year.

"One of my favorite was to play the market is to find a hot area and then invest in companies that provide products to support that market," says Dave Dyer.

In The Dave Dyer Newsletter he explains, "Bucyrus International (NASDAQ: BUCY) is a domestic heavy equipment manufacturer that is focused exactly in the areas that will benefit from the global commodities boom.

"The company's products are focused on mining for coal, iron ore, copper, oil sands, and other minerals needed to support the global infrastructure expansion. Mining is hot right now, and all mines need mining equipment. "Rapid industrial expansion in Asia and Eastern Europe requires raw materials. This trend is not likely to stop soon.

"BUCY is a very old company. In 1880, they started as a small foundry in Bucyrus, Ohio. By 1904, they were supplying excavation equipment for one of the largest projects in the world, the Panama Canal. By 1969, they were making earth moving equipment that was almost 22 stories tall. If you need to dig a really big hole, talk to BUCY.