Although the stock has surged some 20% in the past month, it could climb even further, due to solid growth in the business and a conservatively managed investment portfolio.

Tobey Sommer, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, also sees opportunities for FTI's recently acquired real-estate practice "to assist builders in deciding whether to finish, mothball or liquefy works in progress," he notes. And credit deflation's increasingly global toll also favors FTI, which has more than 2,000 employees around the world. At about 46, shares trade at 16.5 times 2009 earnings -- not exactly cheap, and a reflection of FTI's of-the-moment appeal. But even after analysts cut forecasts, the Baltimore company is still expected to grow profits three or four times faster than the S&P 500 over the next two years. It also trades at just twice book value, compared with 8.8 times for the research-and-consulting sector. If it weren't for the inhospitable climate for new stock offerings, FTI might have spun off a technology-services unit, a fairly discrete and growing business that, among other things, handles gobs of data for corporations and law firms. Last week, the acquisitive FTI bought a privately held turnaround manager in Dallas, and an eventual technology spinoff to a more receptive market will give FTI even more capital to expand its business.

Moreover, ASML, as the leader in lithography-scanner gear, has a strong balance sheet, with about €1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) in cash and €855 million ($1.15 billion) in long-term debt, including that senior note. Theoretically, it could buy back the notes with cash to spare. Hardly the stuff of default. This year the company, which sports a stock-market capitalization of $7.3 billion, is likely to lose money, but if economies revive in 2010, ASML should return to the black. Either the bonds are very cheap, Hersch argues, or the stock market has overvalued the shares. Notwithstanding the stock market's assessment, Hersch thinks the bonds could nearly double in value. And, just in case the bond market is right, Hersch also bought put options on ASML stock, which allow him to sell shares at the current price, as insurance against a sharp drop in the price. Meanwhile, the company expects to report fourth-quarter results Thursday. Investors interested in the bonds should wait for the news. Even if downbeat, it might afford a better entry point.

Analysts expect the big Indian IT firms, as well as foreign outsourcing majors such as Accenture (ACN) and Cognizant (CTSH), to pick up clients fleeing Satyam. And Wipro's Senepathy speculates that "many companies" would be interested in buying Satyam, but declines to invoke his own corporation as a bidder. Infosys ruled out bidding for the tainted firm.

Analysts expect the big Indian IT firms, as well as foreign outsourcing majors such as Accenture (ACN) and Cognizant (CTSH), to pick up clients fleeing Satyam. And Wipro's Senepathy speculates that "many companies" would be interested in buying Satyam, but declines to invoke his own corporation as a bidder. Infosys ruled out bidding for the tainted firm.

Analysts expect the big Indian IT firms, as well as foreign outsourcing majors such as Accenture (ACN) and Cognizant (CTSH), to pick up clients fleeing Satyam. And Wipro's Senepathy speculates that "many companies" would be interested in buying Satyam, but declines to invoke his own corporation as a bidder. Infosys ruled out bidding for the tainted firm.

Analysts expect the big Indian IT firms, as well as foreign outsourcing majors such as Accenture (ACN) and Cognizant (CTSH), to pick up clients fleeing Satyam. And Wipro's Senepathy speculates that "many companies" would be interested in buying Satyam, but declines to invoke his own corporation as a bidder. Infosys ruled out bidding for the tainted firm.

Charles Kantor, a portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman and longtime Thermo Fisher owner, says that with the market already pricing in some downside risk to '09 earnings forecasts, "it is one of those times where when people simply believe whatever the new [earnings] number is, the stock should go up." There is a chance the Street will get a feel for a new and believable profit target on Tuesday, when Thermo Fisher will present its case to investors at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. Even if not, this fearful market seems to have brought a one-time growth darling into the buy zone even of bargain-focused investors.