"We like stocks. And we like a lot of 'em. We focus on broadly diversified investments in undervalued stocks for their long-term appreciation potential," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Each month, we suggest a group of stocks that could help serve as a portfolio foundation. Here's a look at three such portfolio 'foundation' stocks: Kraft Foods (KFT), Verizon Communications (VZ) and Waste Management (WM).

"We follow an approach to investng that focuses on broadly diversified investments in undervalued stocks for their long-term appreciation potential," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, " Two recently featured ideas -- Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Baxter International (BAX) -- are among those we feel could serve as a portfolio foundation or as a new ideas for well- diversified holdings.

"We recommend broad portfolio diversification is a core tenet of our investment approach; however, we think the tech sector in particular presents some attractive opportunities, especially in the large-cap arena," says value investor John Buckingham.

The money manager and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "One stock we particularly like for the coming year is Cisco Systems (CSCO).

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.

"We recommend broad portfolio diversification is a core tenet of our investment approach," says value investor John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "However, we think the tech sector presents some attractive opportunities, especially in the large-cap arena. Oone stock we particularly like for the coming year is Cisco (CSCO).

"Spun-off from American Express in 2005, Ameriprise Financial (AMP) is in the midst of a transformation from an insurer to a full-blown money management firm," notes long-term value investor John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Eyeing an opportunity to gather assets on the cheap, the company spent close to $2 billion during the financial crisis.

"The company purchased Columbia Asset Management, J&W Seligman and H&R Block Financial. In total, it acquired $224 billion in new assets, bringing total assets under management to over $445 billion.

"We discriminate among investments primarily by their relative valuation metrics; we buy only those stocks we find undervalued relative to their own trading history, their peers or that of the market in general," says value investor John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Two such buys are Marathon Oil (MRO) and Tsakos Energy Navigation (TNP).

"Both stocks could be chosen as part of the foundation of a portfolio for new investors or for those seeking to diversify their holdings.

"At some point, the bearish outlook on consumer spending will become a crowded trade, as too much focus on risk threatens to blind one to opportunities that the ongoing pessimism and market turmoil have created," says John Buckingham.

The value investor and editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "While we are not clamoring to add new names with general retail exposure, the receding tide has brought low all boats, including Tiffany & Co. (TIF), a company with a ubiquitous worldwide brand.

"We think there is too much risk to owning pure refiners in this environment," says John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "However, there is one company with a valuation now hurt by its refining exposure, but that is shifting upstream in a way that makes the eventual mix worth owning now: Marathon Oil (MRO).

"Since the turn of the century, Marathon Oil has generated an average of 85% of its revenue from refining. And profit coming from the upstream division was weighted by taxes and royalties. As a result, the company has traditionally been valued much more like a refiner than a true integrated oil company.

"It's not so easy building an airplane; harder still to develop a new one from scratch and then build it in various pieces around the world to be shipped to one place for final assembly," notes technology expert Mark Mowrey.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator Tech Value Report explains, "No surprise, then, that this month's new buy, aerospace giant The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), has fallen behind schedule on the 787 Dreamliner." Here is his bullish review.

"Delays aside, the plane remains the most elegant, sophisticated and efficient carrier-class planes in the world, one for which we bet customers are willing to wait.

"We believe the company will move beyond pre-launch troubles this year and continue to innovate along the gamut of its aerospace endeavors, and find the stock's valuation a compelling entry point.

"In addition to a just-identified 3-unit addendum to an existing order for six Dreamliners from Fiji-based Air Pacific, Boeing has racked up orders for 817 of the 787s from 55 different carriers around the globe.

"The airlines were attracted to the advantages the Dreamliner's nearly half composite (instead of a similarly strong, though heavier aluminum and titanium) structure which should utilize 20% less fuel for a given load and range.