Among other notables, Christopher Hohn of The Children's Investment Fund, based in London, made the case for CSX and his campaign to put an alternative group of directors on the railroad company's board. Hohn maintained that while CSX (CSX) has been a big winner this year, rising 52% to 67, its shares have much further to ride because the rail operator is an operational laggard, relative to the other three major U.S. railroads. He sees $2 billion in potential cost savings annually, and other benefits if CSX gets better management.

Larry Robbins of Glenview Capital talked about his affinity for such stocks as UnitedHealth Group, Ingersoll-Rand and Hewlett-Packard. He's bullish on the depressed managed-care group, including UnitedHealth Group (UNH), whose shares, at around 35, trade for just 10 times estimated 2008 earnings. The company's asset value, he argues, is at least $50 a share.

Larry Robbins of Glenview Capital talked about his affinity for such stocks as UnitedHealth Group, Ingersoll-Rand and Hewlett-Packard. Glenview's Robbins said that Ingersoll-Rand (IR) looks appealing at 43 because the company could earn nearly $6 a share in 2010

Larry Robbins of Glenview Capital talked about his affinity for such stocks as UnitedHealth Group, Ingersoll-Rand and Hewlett-Packard. Robbins says the stock market has unfairly punished Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), as well, for its deal to buy EDS (EDS), because it fails to give credit to Mark Hurd, HP's CEO, for his skills in integrating acquisitions. HP stock has fallen 5%, to 45, since the deal was announced.

Rich Pzena of Pzena Investment Management called depressed Citigroup one of the most attractive financial companies. Pzena, taking an opposite view from Price, put in a good word for Citigroup. He said that the earnings power of the banking giant, whose stock trades in the low 20s, is largely unimpaired and that it could net over $5 a share in 2009.

Former mutual-fund star Michael Price was bullish on Allied Irish Banks, Forest City Enterprises and McGraw-Hill. Price likes Allied Irish Banks (AIB), now around 42. Stripping out the value of the bank's stake in M&T Bank (MTB) in the U.S. and a Polish bank, the core operations are valued at just five times earnings, he said.

Former mutual-fund star Michael Price was bullish on Allied Irish Banks, Forest City Enterprises and McGraw-Hill.

Former mutual-fund star Michael Price was bullish on Allied Irish Banks, Forest City Enterprises and McGraw-Hill.