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Gorge on High-Quality Stocks for Holidays

Kevin Baker

With fond memories of Thanksgiving's gluttony still fresh in my mind, I'm looking forward to a feast large enough to satisfy both the eight days of Hanukkah and the 12 days of Christmas. TheStreet.com Ratings model for common stocks has selected a holiday dining menu of "buy"-rated companies with good prospects for the coming year.

The first place to begin the hunt for holiday delicacies is at the grocery store. With ratings at B+, Village Super Market (VLGEA) is approaching a new 52-week high, and Spartan Stores (SPTN) set a new high in November. Two other food retailers, Kroger (KR) and Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) are rated B.

When shopping for the ingredients of a good portfolio mix, some of the largest food-product companies made the buy list. For sale now are General Mills (GIS), at B+, and, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), HJ Heinz (HNZ), Campbell Soup (CPB), Kraft Foods (KFT) and Kellogg (K), all at B-.

The commercial banks may have already been visited by Santa Paulson's bailout elves, but the food banks nationwide are running low at a time of real need. So, please pick up a few extra food items to donate at a nearby food bank.

You are definitely going to need some beverages to wash down all this food. TheStreet.com Ratings model of common stocks recommends a tall, frosty beer from Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) or your choice of Coke, Pepsi or Shasta soft drinks from Coca-Cola (KO), Pepsico (PEP) and National Beverage (FIZZ). All of those beverage companies are rated B-.