Ross Gilardi & team
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Merrill Lynch tumbles from first place to third but continues to win praise for “outstanding stock selection,” in the words of one investor. Ross Gilardi and his two teammates assumed coverage of U.K.-based container maker Rexam with a buy rating in January 2010, deeming it a bargain at 293.20p. In October 2011, with the shares up 10.5 percent, to 324p, they pounded the table, citing management’s new emphasis on specialty cans. By late December 2012 the stock had soared 48.7 percent, to 436p. In November, Gilardi switched to covering the U.S. machinery sector.
— Ben Mattlin