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.

"Don't get scared off by the name at Credicorp (NYSE: BAP), my favorite 'home run' pick for 2008," explains John Reese, of Validea, a quantitative advisor service based on following the strategies of leading market gurus such as Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett.

"While US banks have been floundering amid the credit and subprime crises, this Peruvian upstart has sparkled, gaining 30% since mid-August.

"The holding company's businesses are involved in commercial banking, insurance, and investment banking, and, if subprime's got you down, consider this: Credicorp's main subsidiary, Banco de Credito del Peru, actually grew its mortgage business 8.2% in the third quarter as Peruvians' purchasing power continued to increase.

"What's more, Credicorp's fundamentals are so strong that it's one of just three stocks currently getting strong interest from three or more of my 'Guru Strategy' computer models -- those that I base on the writings of Peter Lynch, Martin Zweig, and The Motley Fool's David and Tom Gardner.

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.

"What's not to like about PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) these days?" asks John Reese, editor of Validea, who has chosen the stock as his top conservative idea for 2008.

At Validea -- his quantitative advisor service based on following the strategies of leading market gurus such as Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett -- Reese says, "The beverage and snack giant owns several star American brands (including its famed cola, Doritos, Tropicana, Gatorade, and Quaker Oats).

"The company has a foothold in a bunch of emerging markets with booming economies, and its environmentally conscious streak earned it the No.1 ranking on the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 corporate 'Green Partners' list.

"As if all that's not enough, the firm's exceptional fundamentals garner approval from the 'Guru Strategy' computer models that I base on the approaches of two legendary investors -- Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch.