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Although quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve would boost stock prices, investors are worried that the economy needs government intervention. To play it safe, here are 10 large-cap

stocks that rank as analysts' favorite picks within their sectors. CNBC/Getty Images Most of these stocks won't soar — but that's the point. These 10 companies are some of the

largest and strongest in the U.S. The stocks are ordered by projected upside, from modest to medium. After each synopsis are the names and tickers of three more top-rated large-cap

companies in the same sector. 10. UTILITIES Top Pick: CMS Energy is an electric and gas utility in Michigan. Second-quarter net income increased 5.1% to $82 million, but earnings per share

soared 86% to 39 cents. Revenue grew 9.4% to $1.3 billion. The operating margin widened from 12% to 16%. CMS has $558 million of cash and $6.7 billion of debt, equal to a debt-to-equity

ratio of 2.2. Its stock trades at a book value multiple of 1.4, a sales multiple of 0.7 and a cash flow multiple of 3.9 — 26%, 42% and 38% discounts to utility industry averages. All 15

analysts covering CMS advise purchasing its shares. Bullish Scenario: Oppenheimer predicts that CMS Energy's shares will rise 7% to $20. Three More Top-Ranked Utility Stocks:

CenterPoint Energy Public Service Enterprise Group Sempra Energy 9. TELECOMMUNICATIONS Top Pick: American Tower builds and manages wireless and broadcast infrastructure. Second-quarter net

income surged 77% to $100 million and earnings per share gained 92% to 25 cents. Revenue grew 11%. The operating margin rose from 39% to 40%. American Tower has $383 million of cash and $4.2

billion of debt, converting to a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.2. Its stock sells for a forward earnings multiple of 48, a book value multiple of 6 and a cash flow multiple of 22 — premiums to

peer averages. Still, 80% of analysts rate it "buy." Bullish Scenario: Citigroup expects American Tower's stock to gain 21% to $61. Three More Top-Ranked Telecom Stocks:

CenturyLink AT&T  Windstream 8. CONSUMER GOODS Top Pick: Coca-Cola, the world’s largest soft drink company, sells beverages, concentrates and syrups worldwide. Coca-Cola bottles AP

Second-quarter profit increased 16% to $2.4 billion, or 88 cents a share, as revenue climbed 4.9% to $8.7 billion. The operating margin extended from 30% to 33%. Coca-Cola has $10 billion of

cash and $12 billion of debt, equal to a quick ratio of 1 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5. Its stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 16, a book value multiple of 5.4 and a sales

multiple of 4.3 — on par or at slight premiums to peer averages. Roughly 88% of researchers following Coke rate its stock "buy." Bullish Scenario: Credit Suisse values Coke's

stock at $70, suggesting an 18% return. Three More Top-Ranked Consumer Goods Stocks: Snap-On General Mills  Philip Morris International  7. BASIC MATERIALS Top Pick: Peabody Energy mines for

coal. Second-quarter profit more than doubled to $206 million, or 76 cents a share, as revenue increased 24% to $1.7 billion. The operating margin extended from 16% to 19%. Harald Sund |

Photographer's Choice | Getty Images Peabody has $1.2 billion of cash and $2.8 billion of debt, converting to a quick ratio of 1.3 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.7. Its stock sells for

a forward earnings multiple of 11 and a book value multiple of 3.4 — 23% and 16% discounts to industry averages. It's expensive based on sales and cash flow. Around 85% of analysts

rate it "buy." Bullish Scenario: JPMorgan forecasts that Peabody's stock will rise 29% to $65. Three More Top-Ranked Basic Materials Stocks: Eastman Chemical Cliffs Natural

Resources Freeport-McMoRan 6. FINANCIALS Top Pick: Ace sells insurance and reinsurance. Second-quarter profit advanced 27% to $677 million, or $1.98 a share, as revenue grew 6% to $3.8

billion. The operating margin stretched from 19% to 23%. Ace has $5 billion of cash and just $3.6 billion of debt, equal to a net liquidity position. Its stock trades at a trailing earnings

multiple of 7, a forward earnings multiple of 8.2, a book value of 0.9, a sales multiple of 1.3 and a cash flow multiple of 5.4 — 59%, 25%, 79%, 75% and 42% discounts to peer averages.

Roughly 83% of analysts rate Ace's shares "buy." Bullish Scenario: FBR Capital Markets predicts that Ace will climb 30% to $77. Three More Top-Ranked Financial Stocks: MetLife

JPMorgan Visa 5. CONSUMER SERVICES Top Pick: Kohl's operates department stores. Second-quarter profit stretched 13% to $260 million, or 84 cents a share, as revenue grew 7.7% to $4.1

billion. The operating margin inched up to 11%. Kohl's has $2.5 billion of cash and $2 billion of debt, translating to a quick ratio of 0.9 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2. Its stock

sells for a trailing earnings multiple of 15, a forward earnings multiple of 13, a book value multiple of 1.9 and a cash flow multiple of 8.8 — 15%, 28%, 25% and 48% discounts to industry

averages. Around 84% of analysts rank it "buy." Bullish Scenario: Citigroup expects Kohl's shares to gain another 29% to $68. Three More Top-Ranked Consumer Services Stocks:

Wyndham Worldwide Omnicom Group  Interpublic Group 4. INDUSTRIALS Top Pick: Republic Services Group provides nonhazardous solid-waste collection, transfer and disposal services.

Second-quarter profit dropped 29% to $160 million, or 42 cents a share, as revenue hovered at $2.1 billion. The operating margin rose from 19% to 20%. Republic Services has $56 million of

cash and $7.1 billion of debt, equaling a quick ratio of 0.4 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.9. Its stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 15, a book value multiple of 1.6 and a cash

flow multiple of 9.1 — 24%, 48% and 27% discounts to peer averages. All nine analysts following the stock rate it as a “buy.” Bullish Scenario: First Analysis Group projects that

Republic's stock will climb 25% to $39. Three More Top-Ranked Industrial Stocks: Jabil Circuit R.R. Donnely  Flowserve 3. TECHNOLOGY Top Pick: Apple sells the iPod, iPhone and iPad

tablet computer. Fiscal third-quarter profit soared 78% to $3.3 billion, or $3.51 a share, as revenue rose 61% to $16 billion. The operating margin remained steady at 27%. The Apple iPad

Bobby Bank | Getty Images Apple has close to $46 billion of cash and marketable securities and no debt. Its stock sells for a forward earnings multiple of 16, a book value multiple of 6.1

and a cash flow multiple of 16 — slight premiums to computer and peripheral industry averages. Of analysts covering Apple, 48 rate its stock "buy" and just three rank it

"hold." Bullish Scenario: Ticonderoga Securities predicts that Apple's stock will climb 49% to $430. Three More Top-Ranked Technology Stocks: Cognizant Technology Solutions

Microsoft Oracle  2. OIL AND GAS Top Pick: Halliburton is an oilfield-services company. Second-quarter profit soared 83% to $480 million, or 52 cents a share, as revenue increased 26%. The

operating margin rose from 14% to 17%. Halliburton has $3.1 billion of cash and $4.6 billion of debt, converting to a quick ratio of 2 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5. Halliburton's

stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 14 and a sales multiple of 2 — 34% and 19% discounts to peer averages. It's expensive based on book value and cash flow, but roughly 94%

of analysts rate the stock "buy." Bullish Scenario: Jefferies values Halliburton at $54, suggesting a 59% return. Three More Top-Ranked Oil and Gas Stocks: Schlumberger Occidental

Petroleum EQT  1. HEALTH CARE Top Pick: Medco Health Solutions is a pharmacy-benefits manager. Second-quarter profit increased 14% to $357 million, or 77 cents a share, as revenue expanded

9.9% to $16 billion. The operating margin contracted from 3.8% to 3.6%. Medco has $1.2 billion of cash and $4 billion of debt, translating to a quick ratio of 0.8 and a debt-to-equity ratio

of 0.8. Medco's stock sells for a forward earnings multiple of 14, a book value multiple of 4.8 and a cash flow multiple of 11 — sizable premiums to peer averages. Still, around 85% of

analysts rank its stock "buy." Bullish Scenario: Maxim Group forecasts that Medco's stock will rise 54% to $81. Three More Top-Ranked Health Care Stocks: Express Scripts Life

Technologies  Abbott Laboratories ______________________________ _DISCLOSURES:_ TheStreet's editorial policy prohibits staff editors, reporters and analysts from holding positions in

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