SECOND TEAM Ronald Epstein BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
After two years in third place, Ronald Epstein climbs one rung to second. An uptick in jet orders in January prompted the BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research analyst to pound the table on aircraft component suppliers United Technologies Corp. of Hartford, Connecticut, and Montreal-based Bombardier, at $78.55 and C$5.73, respectively. UTX shares soared to $90.79 in July before diving to $74.25 by the end of August, while Bombardier’s stock flew to C$7.09 in April but tumbled to C$4.77 through August. The sector dropped 8.7 percent over the period. “I always make sure to read Epstein’s comments before making an investment decision,” attests one devotee.