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.

For his top stock pick for 2009, market timing expert Sy Harding looks to medical products company, Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZMH).

In his Street Smart Report, the advisor looks at the maker of orthopedic implants, noting, "Currently trading at just 1.6 times books value, 2.3 times sales, and at 9.5 times earnings, the stock is a bargain."

Harding explains, "Zimmer designs and manufactures orthopedic implants, including joint, dental, and spinal replacements, as well as surgical instruments designed to aid in orthopedic surgery and post-operation rehabilitation.

"The company has been growing steadily from both rising sales of its own products, and from acquisitions. Its most recent acquisition was Abbott Spine, acquired from Abbott Labs for $360 million.

"The acquisition was funded from cash on hand and its already existing credit line, worth noting given how the credit crunch is causing problems for many companies. Zimmer's ratio of long-term debt to equity is only about 20% of its industry's average, and it maintains a high level of cash.

Health care has long been considered a recession-resistant business. Given the current economic challenges, it's little surprise that in our survey of favorite stocks for the coming year, a number of leading advisors turned to this classic defensive sector.

In this year's Top Stock Picks from 75 advisors report, we found an intriguing group of medical-related stocks, from speculation in emerging biotech to well-established pharmaceutical firms, and from medical products makers to medical services firms focused on increasing health care efficiency and early disease detection.

Mike Cintolo, editor of The Cabot Market Letter, thinks Myriad Genetics (NASDAQ: MYGN) could be a "big winner in 2009," The company is a lead in the new field of cancer predisposition testing. For Mike's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Myriad Genetics.

Chuck Carlson, editor of The DRIP Investor, sees both quality and potential in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). For Chuck's full report, read Top Stock Picks '09: Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ:ANDE) is trading up over 2% pre-market after Banc of America raised its rating to Buy from Neutral on higher corn acreage in 2007 and beyond for the ethanol producer.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) trading down roughly 3% as Banc of America started coverage with a Sell rating.

Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:VLO) cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank on valuation.

Zimmer Holdings (NYSE:ZMH) cut to Mkt Perform at Piper Jaffray after the medical device maker offered mixed guidance.

Smith Barney lifts its S&P 500 Index target to 1600 from 1500.

Full list of pre-market analyst calls here.

Jon Ogg is a partner in 24/7 Wall St., LLC; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Stocks futures are positive in early morning trade, indicating to a similar start for stock.

Stocks might get a push higher today from several done deals, deals in the making, or possible deals. The strengthening dollar against the euro and the yen could also support stocks.

Today marks the beginning of a very busy week. The Federal Reserve will meet tomorrow and announce its decision on interest rates tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. Eastern. By and large, the market doesn't expect the Fed to move interest rates, especially after Friday's job report.

On Thursday, member nations of OPEC will meet. For now, oil prices fell below $62 a barrel ahead of the meeting, as there are mixed signals as to what the members would decide.

Finally, a key inflation indicator, Consumer Price Index, is due to be released Friday morning. Today, however, only wholesale inventories data for October are due for release at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

But, as I mentioned earlier, today the buzz is all about the deals, the ones already signed and the speculated ones:

According to the Financial Times, the Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:HD) might announce a $100 million deal as it takes on a majority stake in Chinese chain HomeWay.

Brazilian steelmaker Companhia Siderugica Nacionale (NYSE:SID) raised its bid for Britain's Corus Group PLC (NYSE:CGA), topping an offer by Tata Steel of India.

British insurer Prudential Plc (NYSE:PUK) received a "very preliminary" approach, possibly from Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), for its Internet-banking business Egg, but rejected it.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) had seen strong interest and fierce bidding for its Aston Martin unit. Speculations are now that the line could sell for more than $1.2 billion.

The New York Times reports that Sabre Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TSG), owner of the Travelocity, is in talks with two groups bidding for company for more than $4 billion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s (NYSE:HET) board will meet Wednesday to discuss a buyout offer. In what seems to be a separate offer, a group led by Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ:PENN) and hedge fund D.E. Shaw might also bid for Harrah's.

Smith & Nephew Group Plc (NYSE:SNN), is close to bidding about $11 billion for Biomet Inc. (NASDAQ:BMET). It could face competition from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) and Zimmer Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ZMH).

A few other companies with deal stories today: Trimble Navigation (NASDAQ:TRMB) that bought @Road (NASDAQ:ARDI) for $496 million, or $7.50 a share. Gannett Co. (NYSE:GCI) that may sell its U.K. newspaper unit Newsquest. Pearson (NYSE:PSO) and LG.Philips LCD (NYSE:LPL) also made unrelated deals.