vitamin-enhanced water posts

Feed

Top 20 advisors: Yola Edwards thinks Coke is it

Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Yola Edwards, editor of The Income Investor, chose Canadian grocer Sobey's as her top pick for 2007. The stock rose 42% due to a just completed going-private transaction at $58 a share.

The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) is her new top pick; she says, "'Coke is it,' or so the company's jingle suggested -- but the share price of Coca-Cola has been in a major downtrend since July 1998. However there are technical signs that indicate the downtrend has ended and an upside breakout is just ahead.

"Investors usually turn to a defensive stock like Coca-Cola in a slowing economic environment, and with first-quarter U.S GDP growth of 0.6%, now might be the time to try some Coke.

"With nearly 400 brands in over 200 countries, Coca-Cola is the world's largest beverage company, but Coke has apparently recognized that it hasn't been 'it' for awhile and has taken steps to join the new generation by spending $4.1 billion to acquire Energy Brands Inc., known as Glaceau, a maker of vitamin-enhanced water.

"Analysts' reactions to the purchase are mixed, calling it overpriced, while others think it's a smart strategic move despite the stiff price tag. With the transaction closing in the summer, it is expected to be accretive to the company's bottom line in 2008.

"In April, Coca-Cola reported first quarter net income of $1.26 billion, or 54 cents per share, up from $1.11 billion or 47cents per share in the prior year. Technical analysis suggests that although a pullback to the 10-month moving average at $49 would offer support and an opportunity, the stock is poised to rally to about $69 over the next year."

See all 20 stocks the advisors picked for the second half of 2007.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 12, 2012: 02:24 PM

Hot Stocks

General Electric

18.875-0.255(-1.33)

Alcoa

10.29-0.35(-3.29)

Apple Inc

493.42+0.25(+0.05)

Google Inc 'A'

605.91-5.55(-0.91)

Bank of America

8.07-0.11(-1.34)

Wal-Mart Stores

61.90-0.06(-0.10)

Exxon Mobil Corp

83.80-1.08(-1.27)

Ford

12.44-0.25(-1.97)

Citigroup

32.925-0.735(-2.18)

IBM

192.42-0.71(-0.37)

Yahoo

16.14+0.14(+0.88)

Starbucks

48.82-0.38(-0.77)

Microsoft

30.495-0.275(-0.89)

Home Depot

45.33+0.06(+0.13)

DailyFinance Headlines

AOL Business News

BioHealth Investor Headlines

Sponsored Links

My Portfolios

Track your stocks here!

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

BloggingStocks Partners

More from AOL Money & Finance

Page Loaded in 1329074674495 ms.