Roepers predicted a huge uptick in M&A activity last year. He named Energizer (ENR), Joy Global (JOY), Ashland (ASH) and Flowserve (FLS) as potential takeover targets.
So far at least, Roepers predictions don't seem very prescient. None of the four were scooped up by other companies. In fact, it's been a bad year overall for M&A activity, which is down sharply from 2011 as worries about an economic slowdown overshadow a solid stock market rally.
Still, you would have logged decent returns if you took Roepers' advice, even with the lack of M&A activity.
