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.
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Why is gold making a new high, trading at $1,118.00 per ounce?
