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.

George Putnam is the newsletter advisory industry's leading authority on distressed stocks and turnaround situations. In his The Turnround Letter, he looks to semiconductor firm Teradyne (NYSE: TER), his top 2009 pick.

"Founded in 1960, Teradyne is the leading maker of automated semiconductor testing equipment. It also produces testing equipment for circuit board assemblies, aerospace and defense instruments, and automotive systems.

"The current short-term prospects for the semiconductor industry are weak, and so many of the chip stocks are down hard. Testing is a key element of semiconductor production, and so the testing equipment producers will prosper when the chip makers rebound.

"Teradyne has been the dominant player in the semiconductor testing market for quite a while and over the last couple of years the company further solidified its leadership position by acquiring competitors and buying back stock.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Amkor Technology (NASDAQ: AMKR), a semiconductor packaging and test services firm, is the top speculative idea for 2007 from Todd Salamone. The editor of Equity WealthBuilder notes, "Amkor shares have been on a tear, more than doubling as of mid-December.

"The rally began when Amkor restated its 2005 and first-quarter 2006 earnings reports with the SEC, which resolved a potential conflict with bondholders. A second bullish catalyst was record third-quarter sales and a third-quarter profit -- after reporting a loss in the third quarter the prior year.

"On the technical front, the stock had consolidated since July 2004 at its lowest levels this decade. Now, a combination of positive earnings surprises and strong technical momentum in the shares could attract momentum players, while its P/E of 10 may attract valuation players.

"With positive catalysts in place, strong price action during recent weeks, and the potential for valuation players to take notice, there is a very good possibility that the unwinding of negative sentiment surrounding these shares could drive a sustained trend higher.