Preliminary analysis of the best-positioned stocks that may be the most powerful in 2008 shows that three companies, namely, Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Ctrip.com (Nasdaq: CTRP), and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), look especially promising.

• Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is the largest national corporative retailer dealing with consumer electronics. Its current profits show a tendency to rise 8.7 percent, which is well ahead of the most daring expectations of the leading stock analysts. In the second quarter of this year, Best Buy’s profits rose $250 million (in comparison with $230 million increase observed in the second quarter of 2006), or 55 cents per share (in comparison with last year’s 47 cents per share). Circuit City (NYSE: CC), the closest rival of Best Buy, is doing worse in comparison, as it has recently lost its three senior executives and experienced other corporate troubles.
• Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CTRP) is one of the biggest China-based companies dealing with air tickets, travel packages, and hotel accommodations. According to International Herald Tribune, Ctrip.com had a 70 percent rise in profits in the third quarter of 2007, with its net income having climbed to $15 million. The company is expected to get the most immediate benefit from the Olympic Games that are coming to Beijing next year.
• Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) is a leading international corporation that designs, assembles, and sells computers, digital music devices, and mobile phones, as well as provides related services, software, and networking solutions. Every quarter for already five years, the company’s profits have been well exceeding Wall Street expectations. Apple, together with its main competitors Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) , literally owns the international music and computer markets and sells advanced iPod models, such as the hit of this summer – famous Apple’s iPhone.