Tesla Motors (TSLA - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings last night, posting a fiscal-Q4 loss of $51.36 million, or 54 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, TSLA lost 47 cents per share on revenue of $36.3 million. Analysts had forecast a loss of 50 cents per share on revenue of $34.3 million. Investors are getting excited for this stock because TSLA also said it has received 3,700 orders for its "reasonably-priced" Model S passenger sedan, which will begin delivery in 2012. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on TSLA.

TSLA opened this morning at $23.10. So far today the stock has hit a low of $23.07 and a high of $24.40. As of 11:55, TSLA is trading at $23.89 up $1.05 (4.6%). The chart for TSLA looks neutral.

"The trick within the solar sector is to home in on the stock within the group that has the best shot at putting on a great show," says Paul Goodwin.

The editor of Cabot China & Emerging Markets Report explains, "And we think that stock is LDK Solar (LDK), a company that is displaying and forecasting some of the most dynamic growth of any company we follow -- solar or not.

"LDK Solar got its start in 2005 and came public during the glory days of 2007-the stock nearly tripled from its IPO in June to its top that fall. The company's claim to fame was its polysilicon and ingots, two of the base supplies needed to make most solar cells and modules.

"Ultracapacitors are lighter and more powerful than batteries, 10 times more powerful by size as well as 10 times lighter," notes Brendan Coffey.

The editor of Cabot Green Investor explains, "Within this market, Maxwell Technologies (MXWL) is a San Diego-based company whose patent-protected ultracapacitors are denser -- and therefore able to hold more energy -- than those of its competitors.

"In a simplified comparison of how powerful and quick Maxwell's ultracaps are, a lead acid battery takes 10 hours to fully charge. A lithium ion battery will charge in about an hour.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Canadian Oil Sands Trust (COSWF) has clearly lagged broad-based and energy-sector benchmarks alike over the trailing 12 months," says David Dittman.

The contributing editor to Canadian Edge explains, "A series of unplanned turnarounds at the Syncrude operation, of which Canadian Oil Sands owns 36.7 percent, have analysts questioning whether rising costs will ever allow Canadian Oil Sands to really benefit from elevated oil prices.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Cree Inc. (CREE), a semiconductor equipment company based in Durham, North Carolina, is my top investment idea for the coming year," says trading specialist Rick Pendergraft.

The editor of Cabot Options Trader explains, "The stock has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years with a long-term growth rate of 22%.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"The 'sleeper' story of 2011 will be cellulosic ethanol, a biofuel made from the sugar in plants (instead of the starch in corn)," says Andy Obermueller.

The editor of Fast-Track Millionaire explains, "New EPA rules increase the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline by +50%, and federal law calls for the nation to produce gobs of this so-called 'advanced biofuel.'

"Cameco (CCJ) is a Canadian miner and the second largest producer of uranium in the world," says Brendan Coffey.

The editor of the Cabot Green Investor explains, "However, the company is more than just a uranium miner. It also operates further up the nuclear supply chain, and has a goal of continuing to expand its related services.

"The company delivered 16% of world demand in 2009 and is aiming to double production by 2018. It has 'proven and probable' uranium reserves of 480 million pounds, enough to meet nearly three years of current global demand.

"China is quickly becoming the global leader in the development and production of alternative energy technologies," says Keith Fitz-Gerald.

The editor of The New China Trader suggests, "One way to play the trend is with Advanced Battery Technologies (ABAT), which engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of rechargeable polymer lithium-ion (PLI) batteries.

"Founded in September, 2002, Advanced Battery Technologies is officially based in New York. However, it also keeps executive offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, while its manufacturing facilities are in China -- so for all intents and purposes this is a Chinese company.

LDK Solar (LDK - option chain) shares are rising today to notch a new 52-week high after the company reported Q3 earnings last night, posting a profit of $29.4 million, or 27 cents per share, on revenue of $675.6 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 43 cents per share on revenue of $628.1 million. LDK also forecast fourth-quarter revenue of $710 to $750 million. Analysts have forecast revenue of $594 million. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on LDK.

LDK opened this morning at $14.85. So far today the stock has hit a low of $14.25 and a high of $15.10. As of 12:20, LDK is trading at $14.45 up 0.96 (7.1%). The chart for LDK looks neutral and S&P gives LDK a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

"I'm usually advising investors to avoid garbage, but today I'm advising the opposite," says Jack Adamo, adding, "Waste Management (WM), the largest provider of solid waste disposal in the U.S., is my latest recommendation.

The editor of Insiders Plus explains, "The company also has a growing recyclable and waste-to-energy business.

"The two biggest players, itself and Republic Group, have been on a long road of consolidating the industry. There will eventually only be three of four players.

"The real magic behind lithium is that, pound for pound, this featherweight metal can store more electric energy than just about any other material," notes Nathan Slaughter.

The editor of The ETF Authority explains, "That has made lithium the battery maker's best friend. And portable electronics, power grid infrastructure and hybrid vehicles are a powerful 1-2-3 punch that could send demand soaring.

"Unlike gold, silver and other metals, it's virtually impossible to invest directly in lithium. There are no lithium trading pits, no futures contracts, and no way to take physical possession. Global X Lithium Fund (LIT), a recently launched exchange-traded fund, is the next best thing.

"The global nuclear power industry is in the early stages of a multiyear growth spurt similar to what the industry experienced in the late 1970s and '80s," says energy sector expert Elliott Gue.

The editor of The Energy Strategist explains, "The nuclear renaissance will generate tremendous wealth for investors over the next few years. Two stocks that will benefit are Cameco (CCJ) and Shaw Group (SHAW).

"The nuclear power industry benefits from both a lack of dependence on imports as well as costs that don't vary excessively with commodity prices.

"The hunt for high-yield in the agriculture sector only turns up a few names that fit our appetite for fat dividends and the potential for serious upside capital appreciation," says Bryan Perry.

The growth & income specialist and editor of The Cash Machine explains, "That said, let's get long shares of Terra Nitrogen Co. LP (TNH), a master limited partnership which offers a current yield of 10.1%.

The fertilizer sector is not only resilient, but now has an M&A premium attached to it because of the hostile bid for Potash by BHP Billiton.

Are you comfortable with the price you are paying to fuel your vehicles? If so, good; if not, you better look for an alternative fuel vehicle. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced earlier today that it is "comfortable" with the current prices for black gold and that it doesn't want to "rock the boat" as the economy attempts to recover from the recession.

I assume that the members of OPEC then lit cigars with $20 bills and sat around sipping brandy from gold snifters while laughing uproariously. OPEC's Secretary General Abdalla El-Badri noted a sense of caution, because the cartel is trying to help the world economy. El-Badri stated that the path of the world recovery is "not really clear," and that OPEC doesn't "want to see a double-dip recession which ... would affect, negatively, almost everybody." Any change in prices or quotas this year will depend on unnamed "circumstances" according to the Secretary General.

"In my view, Corning (GLW) shares are exceptionally cheap at a mere nine times current year and 2011 earnings," says environmentally-aware investing expert Brendan Coffey.

The editor of Cabot Green Investor explains, "Primarily, we're excited by the emergence of a technology invented in 1962 that languished without an appropriate market for 45 years until 2007: Gorilla glass.