Cassio Lucin
& team
J.P. Morgan
First-place appearances: 5

Total appearances: 9

Team debut: 1994

After a ten-year absence, J.P. Morgan returns to the roster in second place, thanks to the efforts of new team leader Cassio Lucin. The São Paulo–based analysts, who report on nine companies, are credited with “increasing the frequency of their visits and their update reports,” according to one buy-side backer. The two-person crew initiated coverage on Alfa in December with an overweight rating, at 28.61 pesos, citing the Mexico-based conglomerate’s international exposure, especially to the rallying European auto industry. By mid-July shares of the diversified supplier of auto components, petrochemicals, and food and dairy products had advanced 10 percent, to 31.47 pesos, and bested the broad market by 24 percentage points. — Ben Mattlin