"Our latest "Bargain Stock of the Month" feature is NextEra Energy (NEE), which changed its name in June from the FPL Group," notes Vita Nelson, who notes that the company changed its name to "better reflect the company's scale as one of the largest and cleanest energy providers in the nation."

The editor of MoneyPaper's Direct Investing exlains, "Its regulated utility, Florida Power & Light, provides electricity to 4.4 million customers. Its unregulated unit sells power across the United States.

"Over a third of this unit's operation sources electric power using windmills, many of which are located in high-wind areas, such as the Texas panhandle.

"IBM (IBM), our latest featured stock of the month, is no longer the company that might have been familiar to your parents; in 2004, CEO Samuel Palmisano sold off the company's PC (personal computer) business (to China's Lenovo) and shifted the firm's focus to consulting and services, given the higher margins they brought," notes Vita Nelson.

The editor of MoneyPaper explains, "In addition, recently, the company has put more emphasis on computer software. Palmisano asserts that business will account for half of pre-tax profits in five years.

"Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffet is a disciple of the teachings of Benjamin Graham and David Dodd, who made their fortunes by buying businesses that were selling for less than the value of their working capital (current assets minus current liabilities," notes Vita Nelson.

The editor of The Moneypaper explains, "The pair developed a Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) model to determine if a company was worth its market price. Their formula subtracts all liabilities, including short-term debt and preferred stock, from a company's current asset balance"

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Vita Nelson is well-known as a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans. With the caveat that she always recommends portfolio diversification, the editor of The MoneyPaper looks to utility stock FPL (FPL) as a top selection for 2010.

Nelson explains, "We make a point of recommending that people don't pin their hopes on just one stock (which might underachieve in the short run).

"Direct Investment Plans -- or DRIPs -- are a great way to investor regardless of the market environment; in fact, avoiding the emotional decisions usually made by the typical investor may be their greatest strength," observes DRIP specialist Vita Nelson.

In her MoneyPaper's Direct Investing, she reviews the basics of DRIP investing and discusses her latest "Bargain Corner" stock pick -- Regions Financial (RF).

Vita Nelson explains, "This strategy involve the four Ds -- dividend reinvestment, dollar-cost averaging, diversification, and discipline.

In her The MoneyPaper, editor Vita Nelson looks to stocks offering dividend reinvestment plans. Here, she highlights Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) as a featured holding in her model portfolio.

"Abbott is a diversified, multinational, health care firm.The shares have not responded to the recent stock market rallies in part due to the defensive nature of health care stocks.

"Uncertainty regarding health care reform is also a factor in the static share price of recent months. ABT shares are now trading below 11 times 2010 earnings estimates, compared with about 15 for the S&P 500.