< The 2014 All-Europe Research Team

Linus Larsson & team
SEB Equities
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 4

Team debut: 1993

In his debut appearance last year, Linus Larsson earned SEB Equities a return to the roster after a four-year absence. This year he delivers the firm’s best performance since 1993, rising from runner-up to third place. The solo analyst, who is based in Stockholm and tracks a ten-stock portfolio, “is especially good at separating fact from fiction,” says one devotee. “He takes the long view, which fits the way we invest.” In October, Larsson reiterated his long-standing buy recommendation on Finland’s UPM-Kymmene Corp., in part on rumors of a merger with Finnish rival Stora Enso, which he deemed “rational.” Shares of the newsprint producer had already surged 18.1 percent year to date, and they kept going — advancing 22.9 percent, to €12.52, through December. They remain a top pick, but with a caveat: “Risk-reward in the sector is less appealing after the recent strong share price performance,” Larsson cautions. “We would not be surprised to see a correction in early 2014.”