"Allstate is trading at a depressed level, but investors are focusing too much on potential risks and too little on potential rewards. Barring a Katrina-like catastrophe, the stock could rise at least 25% in a year."

"KCI shares, which have fallen back after strong gains, look like dead money for now. The medical company faces new competition, including the U.K.'s large Smith & Nephew."

"If the company's new CEO, Glenn Murphy, can build on the recent improvement and earnings come in better than expected, both shareholders and the company should have happy holidays."

"JPMorgan Chase has maneuvered around the credit-crisis pileup with minimal scratches so far, thanks to smart driving. Once the economy gets moving again, the big bank is ready to take the lead in the fast lane of recovery."

But Roche looks more promising, in part because its big stake in Genentech (DNA) positions it better in biologics.

"McNamee is confident that the new blood can transform Palm into a strong niche player in the handset market, like Apple. One opportunity is affordable mobile e-mail for everybody-not just corporate executives. Palm's new Centro handset, introduced this fall by Sprint at a price of about $100, is selling like hotcakes, McCourt says. (Sprint doesn't disclose unit figures)."

"Siemens [SI], in Germany, is a major restructuring story. Poor profitability and bribery scandals forced a genuine attempt to change. The portfolio is being repositioned; divestitures are being announced. They will reduce SG&A [selling, general and administrative] expenses by 10% to 20% and do a €10 billion share buyback. New investments will be made only in high-margin areas like energy, environment, automation and health care. The stock is trading at 15.4 times fiscal '08 earnings. As costs go down and margins increase, it will be a good performer."