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When a major, metropolitan U.S. newspaper discovers a investment trend or a hot sector, count on increased share demand for companies in the sector. When that paper is one of the top three dailies, in this case The Washington Post, count on even more demand.

On Monday, The Washington Post examined the resurgence of the United States' railroad sector, touching on many of the themes discussed here during the past six months, and described why the rails' services are likely to be in demand for many years.

CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia. It connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. The company also has operations in real estate, resort management and equipment leasing. Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI), Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) and Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) are competitors.

The firm pleased investors early this week, when it issued upside earnings guidance. Management now sees Q1 EPS of 70-73 cents, versus Street consensus of 63 cents. It also expects FY08 EPS of $3.36-$3.56, versus consensus of $3.05. The company boosted long-term guidance through 2010, anticipating compound annual growth in operating income of 13-15% over Y07 (10-12% prior guidance) and compound annual growth in EPS of 18-21% over Y08 (15-17% prior guidance). UBS subsequently upgraded the shares from "neutral" to "buy" and raised its price target to $66.

Readers of this space know that the preference here is for large cap companies, with demonstrated business models, and favorable long-term factors, that have the resources to ride-out short-term economic downturns, including recessions.

And in this category a railroad stock represent a prudent addition to a portfolio, for investors who can tolerate moderate risk.

Pick a railroad. Virtually any railroad. Odds are, you will do fine, long-term, as the nation continues to re-discover the valuable asset - - the national treasury, really - - of its railroads. (More on that latter topic, in a future blog.)

Here are the railroad plays, ranked by risk, with the top stock, BNI, being the lowest risk. A stop/loss, if one were to buy the stock, is also listed:

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), a leading transportation company, closed at $120.92. UNP overall option implied volatility of 33 is above its 26-week average of 29 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.

Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI), an operator of 32,000 railroad route miles, closed at $80.77. BNI overall option implied volatility of 34 is above its 26-week average of 29 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) closed at $46.36. CNI overall option implied volatility of 33 is above its 26-week average of 26 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Daily Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Given investors anxiousness about the economy and hearing more gloom and doom than I think is warranted, I thought I would get back to basics with "my pal" Warren, and add to the series I started several months ago. I decided to write the series after receiving encouragement from friends and associates that read With Warren Buffett by my side ....

Today, I am writing about the concept of Durable Competitive Advantage, which is the ability to get ahead and stay ahead with a high level of certainty. It is also referred to as Sustainable Competitive Advantage.

To achieve a Durable Competitive Advantage, several factors have to be present. One is a big moat (Buffett expression) surrounding the enterprise. This usually means businesses that sell commodities where price is the primary factor in determining opportunity, have no moat as price takers. Their profit margins are not easily defendable. Another factor is barrier to entry. How easy would it be for someone to enter the same business and compete? The T-shirt business is a good example, of something without a Durable Competitive Advantage. Anyone could enter this business in one day, and they do. So unless the business has some unique concept, it does not have the promise of relatively predictable and sustainable profit margins in the future.