For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Rofin-Sinar Technologies (NASDAQ: RSTI) is my top speculative pick for 2008," says Neil Macneale, editor of 2-for-1, a newsletter that chooses its portfolio candidates exclusively from stocks that have just announced splits.

"Rofin-Sinar is a cross between an old line manufacturer and a high-tech 'new economy' company. It manufactures lasers used by other manufacturers to weld, cut, and mark various materials.

"Rofin has been in business for 30 years and is a world leader in industrial laser technology. Growth has been steady and significant over the last five years. Earnings have increased an average of 52% a year for five years and justify the above average P/E ratio of 26.5.

"RSTI pays no dividend and has volatility over twice the average for listed companies, so the stock wouldn't be recommended for the 2-for-1 portfolio, but this is a strong business and I see the possibilities for significant outperformance over the next few years."

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Penske Automotive, CarMax, Towerstream, Solera and Northstar were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Kevin Dann initiated shares of Penske Automotive Group Inc (NYSE: PAG) with a Buy rating and $25 target. The firm believes shares deserve a higher multiple given the company's reduced exposure to slower growing domestic brands combined with the increased penetration o luxury as a percentage of industry sales.
  
• CarMax Inc (NYSE: KMX) was also initiated at Kevin Dann with a Buy rating and $28 target, as they expect the multiple expansion to continue as confidence builds in the company's sales and expense strategy.
  
• Think Equities started shares of Towerstream Corporation (NASDAQ: TWER) with a Buy rating and $5 target and said the company is rapidly growing given robust demand fro high bandwidth services, market expansion, sales force growth, and higher ARPU services.
  
• Barrington believes Solera Holdings Inc (NYSE: SLH) is positioned to capture growth through technology adoption in claims processing by insurance companies, starting shares off with an Outperform rating and $27 target.
  
• Jefferies resumed coverage of Northstar Neuroscience Inc (NASDAQ: NSTR) with a Buy rating and $21 target, as they expect the company's Phase III EVEREST trial to yield positive positives, setting the stage for an FDA approval by Q109.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Friedman Billings started shares of IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: IPGP) with an Outperform rating and $28 target and added shares to its Top Picks List.
  
• The firm also resumed coverage of Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: RSTI) with an Outperform rating and $92 target.
  
• ABN Amro started China Netcom Group Corporation (NYSE: CN) with a Hold rating and China Mobile Limited (NYSE: CHL) and China Unicom Limited (NYSE: CHU) with Buy ratings.
  
• UBS started RSC Holdings Inc (NYSE: RRR) with a Neutral rating.