TheStreet.com Power Stock Rankings: April 8

Schering-Plough leads our most-searched list, but is it a buy or a sell?
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During the week of March 31, TheStreet.com readers searched for 10 stocks more than any others. New entrant Schering-Plough (SGP) joins the list this week as investors look for answers to its precipitous decline.

Research associate Patrick Schultz makes the buy, sell or hold call on them below, in the order of their popularity.

Top Ten Most Searched Stocks on TheStreet.com

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1. Schering-Plough:

Last week, a panel of cardiologists expressed their opinion that the widely used Vytorin drug for lowering cholesterol was not as effective as other drugs and should only be used as a last resort. The news led to a selling frenzy in shares of SGP. However, it is clear that the panic is creating a great buying opportunity. Vytorin is not the only source of revenue for SGP, and the trading is only focusing on this singular news. SGP has one of the strongest pipelines in the industry and I would be a big buyer as they are almost giving away this stock. --

BUY

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2. Apple

(AAPL) - Get Report

: I still have that anecdote from last week showing the insatiable demand for the iPhone outside of the U.S. (visiting friends buying more than one iPhone to bring home) burned in my head. And I realize that Apple actually becomes a great weak dollar play (and boy is our dollar weak). When translated into local currencies, the iPhone is much cheaper than Apple's competitors' inferior product lines. If the iPhone is cheaper than a second-rate product, the consumer decision is a no-brainer. The decision to buy AAPL is a no-brainer also. --

BUY

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3. Yamana Gold

(AUY) - Get Report

: Last week, I said AUY below $15 looks attractive. Well, it is trading under $15 and is looking fine. Recall, AUY is a play on gold prices, and will trade in sympathy with the spot gold price of gold. --

BUY

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4. Research In Motion

(RIMM)

: Let's take a moment and glory in the presence of a truly great growth stock. If at anytime you have ever bet against RIMM, you have been dead wrong. The stock is a poster child for what all growth stocks want to be. They added 2.2 million subscribers, doubled sales in the fourth quarter and raised forward guidance. If you think I am getting off this train, you are crazy. --

BUY

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5. Visa

(V) - Get Report

: Lots of hate mail from my "Sell Visa" call from last week. Let me reiterate that V is already more expensive than

MasterCard

(MA) - Get Report

on a valuation basis. Visa has a market cap over $50 billion and trading at a PE over 50 times actual 2007 EPS. Let's compare this to Mastercard, which has a market cap of roughly $28 billion and equivalent PE of 39 times. Any way you cut these numbers, Visa is more expensive than MasterCard. End of story. --

SELL

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6. First Solar

(FSLR) - Get Report

: Here is a pure trading call with nothing to do with this company's best-in-class fundamentals -- sell FSLR. Now, go and pray for a big pullback to get back in. First Solar is amazing, with the lowest cost per watt electricity production in the business, but the stock is up over 64% in just the past month. There is no crime in taking some profits as I see the $300 psychological barrier causing some near-term resistance. --

SELL

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7. Altria Group

(MO) - Get Report

: The spinoff of Philip Morris International is complete. MO is now a domestic dividend play while the spinoff

Phillip Morris International

(PM) - Get Report

is the high-growth play. Which should you buy? It depends what you are looking for in a stock. If you are looking for income, buy MO with its 5.3% dividend yield. If you are looking for growth, buy PMI for its aggressive international opportunities. I like them both. --

BUY

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8. Sirius Satellite Radio

(SIRI) - Get Report

: The market is not understanding the big upside potential of a combined XMSR-SIRI. The new entity will have strong leverage to reduce costs and increase subscriber growth. Yes, we are still waiting on FCC approval, but I don't see it blocking the deal after the DOJ signed off on it. I would be an aggressive buyer of shares here. --

BUY

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9. Citigroup

(C) - Get Report

: I am diggin' the recent price action as the financial sector has rallied strongly. I think it's best to stick with the game plan and hold on for the ride (remember those Dramamine pills I mentioned over the past few weeks?). If you don't own any Citipain, I mean Citigroup, I can't help but to think you will get a chance to buy lower at some point soon. I think the $21 level looks attractive. --

HOLD

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10. El Paso

(EP)

: In case you have not noticed, energy is very expensive. More importantly, energy costs will not be getting cheaper anytime soon. With EP, you own the largest natural gas pipeline in the U.S. and a company that is growing its exploration and production of natural gas. And for icing on the cake, CEO Doug Foshee is buying shares aggressively, snapping up 50,000 shares in the open market over the market. That gives us three ways to win. --

BUY

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Patrick Schultz is a research associate at TheStreet.com. In keeping with TSC's editorial policy, he doesn't own or short individual stocks. He also doesn't invest in hedge funds or other private investment partnerships. He has previously obtained Securities licenses under the NASD?s Series 7, Series 24, Series 52, and Series 63 exams and has worked in the financial markets on various trading desks in addition to trading for his own account. Schultz appreciates your feedback;

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