In his best showing to date, Eric Katzman leaps from runner-up to second place; the Deutsche Bank Securities analyst has appeared in the rankings every year since 2002, with all but one of those appearances in the runner-up position. (Katzman finished third in 2007.) “Eric’s forte is his industry knowledge and broader, less parochial perspective on the U.S. food group,” observes one investor. Katzman told clients to buy shares of Del Monte Foods Co. in January 2010, at $11.36, on the belief that the San Francisco–based maker of canned fruits, vegetables and pet food was an attractive takeover target. In November, KKR & Co. and other private equity investors agreed to buy the company for $5.3 billion, or $19 a share. The deal was completed in March.
SECOND TEAMEric KatzmanDeutsche Bank Securities