< The 2015 All-Asia Research Team
Total appearances: 10
Team debut: 2005Rising from runner-up to recapture the No. 3 spot it earned in 2013 is Credit Suisse. The Hong Kong–based crew is stewarded by longtime leader Cheong Wa (Vincent) Chan together with Thomas Wong, who joined the firm from Bank of America Merrill Lynch in July 2013. The researchers actively track 444 companies and “consistently distill what’s important into a concise, actionable message — which is difficult in China because there are so many moving parts,” marvels one portfolio manager. In December they named Industrial and Commercial Bank of China one of their top picks, recommending that clients favor both the Shanghai- and Hong Kong–listed stocks. The world’s largest lender, by both assets and market capitalization, boasts an outstanding information technology system, the group believes, as well as a stable management team that has been pursuing a welcome restructuring program. By the end of last month, investors had poured money into ICBC, sending the A shares up 16.8 percent, to 5.41 yuan, and pushing its H shares 19 percent higher, to HK$6.76. During the same period, the broad Asia ex-Japan market posted a 9.5 percent gain. The Credit Suisse analysts continue to tout ICBC, assigning the stocks price objectives of 7.10 yuan and HK$8.90, respectively. Chan and Wong also co-captain a troupe that merits a runner-up position for its coverage of Hong Kong; while Wong and Heekyung (Kenneth) Whee oversee the No. 3 squad on the Oil & Gas roster.
