 |
| Andrew Lazar |
| Barclays |
First-place appearances: 11
Total appearances: 13
Analyst debut: 2001 |
His first-place finish extends Hall of FamerAndrew Lazar’s winning streak to 11 years. In a sector where the Barclays analyst says investors need to “remain selective,” Lazar, 47, still favors ConAgra Foods. He has been recommending the stock since June 2011, believing that the Omaha, Nebraska–based food giant would pursue acquisitions and would benefit from being aggressive. He restated his buy rating in April 2012, at $24.61, citing a slew of small deals the company had made that were paying off. In November, ConAgra announced a bigger acquisition: It would buy St. Louis–based Ralcorp Holdings for $5 billion. The merger closed in January, creating one of the largest packaged-food companies in North America. From Lazar’s April reiteration through August, the stock bolted 37.4 percent, to $33.82. “He’s a very creative thinker,” reflects one investor. “He’s good at identifying opportunities for companies to create value without relying on management to point those opportunities out.” —Katie Gilbert |
