Rite Aid Most Likely Takeover, Poll Says

(Retail takeover poll updated with CKE Restaurants news.)

NEW YORK (TheStreet -- Rite Aid(RAD) is the most likely takeover target in today's market, according to a recent poll by the TheStreet.

The drugstore has raised eyebrows since Walgreen(WAG) announced its purchase of Duane Reade back in February. The deal ignited chatter of other possible buyouts in the sector.

According to TheStreet's poll, 60% said Rite Aid will be bought out within the next year.

Walgreen and CVS Caremark(CVS) have been cited as possible suitors, as has Wal-Mart(WMT). Private equity it also a viable option, and would give Rite Aid a chance to get rid of its debt and make structural changes out of the public eye.

Palm(PALM) is also being bandied about as a potential takeover target, with Lenovo emerging this week as the lead suitor. Still, just 15.4% of voters believe a deal for Palm will get done.

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This isn't a surprise given how many possible buyers, including HTC and Dell(DELL), have already passed on a deal. Fear arose this week that Palm might be unable to find a buyer after it was announced that Michael Abbot, senior vice president of software and services, is leaving the company.

RadioShack(RSH) rumors were reinvigorated this week after a BB&T analyst told the Dallas Business Journal that the rumors are likely true.

The New York Post broke the RadioShack news earlier this year, and analyst Anthony Chukumba said the paper has a good track record when it comes to reporting these types of acquisitions.

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