Christine Farkas BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
In third place for a second consecutive year is Christine Farkas of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. Known as an analyst with a high level of conviction, Farkas reiterated her buy rating on Greensboro, North Carolina’s Lorillard last October, at $70.30, arguing in favor of the strong positioning of the company’s Kent, Newport and other brands, as well as Lorillard’s robust balance sheet. The stock had advanced 8.1 percent, to $76.01, by the end of August.
