Barron’s Picks This Week

I make it a point to read Barron’s every weekend. It’s undeniably the best mass-market publication on investing. This week’s cover is a bullish piece on Oil-related stocks. I think it’s a good call, but would weight to go long until after the 4Q08 earnings season - this will be the first time these companies provide 2009 guidance, and it’s certain to be disappointing. As I look to wade in post-4Q08, I’ll go in w/ an ETF. I need to do more work, but the ones I’m planning to check out are: iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Index ETF (ASE: IYE), SPDR Oil & Gas Exploration and Production ETF (ASE: XOP), iShares Dow Jones US Oil Equipment (NYSE: IEZ), and ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas (DIG).

Barron’s also had a piece on Heinz (HNZ) that was intriguing. I like the bullish call here on the leading consumer staple brands that have been beaten down.