This post is one of six articles on beverage-related stocks. Here are five other investment ideas to sip on.

"Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is a remarkably profitable franchise," says Stephen Leeb. In The Complete Investor, he looks at its expanding market opportunities and expanding dividend.

" Selling its soft drinks and other products to just about every nation in the world, Coke has operating margins of 26.1% and return on common equity of 30.9%. On top of this, it delivers a dividend yield of 3%, higher than the S&P 500's 2.4%.

"And since the payout ratio is only 52.6%, the company could nearly double the yield with no problem at all. While the yield isn't likely to double overnight, Coke clearly has been moving in the direction of favoring higher dividends. Over the past five years, dividends have grown by 11.4% a year.

"In times of inflation, it is particularly critical to invest in companies that can generate growth in both earnings and dividends and that can handle cost pressures with high-margin products. Coke clearly fits this bill.

"The company has been expanding its reach in noncarbonated drinks like juice, water, and sports drinks such as Powerade and Vitamin Water.

"This latter area is Coke's fastest-growing segment, chalking up 12% volume growth in 2007 vs. just 4% for the company's eponymous Coke soft drinks.

"Clearly Coke has regained its footing with successful new product offerings as well as revitalized sales growth in international markets, which provide the bulk of sales and earnings.

"Looking ahead, the company's focus on new high-growth products indicates that earnings could keep growing in double digits, with fewer fluctuations than for most other U.S. large-cap stocks. This together with the dollar's chronic weakness makes multinational Coke a solid long-term holding for conservative investors."

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"To say that alternative energies are critical is a severe understatement." asserts Stephen Leeb, who looks at three plays in the sector that earn a spot in his Growth Portfolio.

The editor of The Complete Investor explains, "Readily scalable energy sources such as solar and wind account for under 1%. It's time to get serious."

Three of the stocks he has selected are holdings in his model Growth Portfolio: FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), Exelon (NYSE: EXC), and General Electric (NYSE: GE). Here's a trio of favorites.

"We have focused on those alternative energy stocks with the strongest growth profiles. None is a pie in the sky fantasy; all provide energy in the here and now and have significant and fast-growing revenue streams.

"The fact that their growth should continue to burgeon is one of the most heartening pieces of news on the energy front. We could argue that investing in these stocks not only will be good for your portfolio but is an act of patriotism as well.

"With oil over $100, and voters increasingly attuned in this political season to the need for clean and renewable fuels, the alternative energy industry is ripe for investment," says David Sandell.

The contributing editor to Stephen Leeb's The Complete Investor, explains, "We're adding American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC) – an energy tech leader that helps the electric grid to function better – to our 'Fast Track' portfolio."

"American Superconductor designs and sells products geared to utilities, industrial companies, and wind energy developers. Its offers are designed to help these customers to generate and deliver electrical power more efficiently, cleanly, and reliably.

"The company has two chief divisions. Its profitable Power Systems segment sells power converters to utilities and industrial customers, both in the U.S. and internationally. The point of these converters is to regulate voltage, thereby improving the performance of the electric grid – making it more efficient (and energy-conserving) as well as reliable.

"The company is teaming up with the Department of Homeland Security as well as with Con Edison on a grid upgrade for New York City that would increase capacity and suppress power surges.

"In 2007, beefing up this division, American Superconductor made two significant acquisitions. It bought Windtec, a company that specializes in wind energy – licensing proprietary wind turbine designs, training workers to maintain turbines, and supplying converter and control systems to wind farms.