< The 2015 All-Japan Research Team

Total appearances: 2

Analyst debut: 2014Eiji Hakomori of Daiwa Securities Group advances from third place to No. 2, carried on a tide of investor praise for his analytical skills, consistency and steadiness. “He conducts analysis based on carefully compiled information,” reports one fund manager, “and formulates reliable investment opinions based on objective criteria without shifting focus due to mere short-term trends.” In addition, the 40-year-old researcher maintains great relationships with both clients and executives at names under his coverage, another backer offers, “providing good corporate access and opportunities for company interviews on investors’ requests.” Hakomori continues to be bullish on Tokyo-based Isuzu Motors, which manufactures commercial vehicles and diesel engines and enjoys a strong presence both at home and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, where commercial truck markets are robust, he notes. Rising public investment by governments in Indonesia and Thailand, moreover, should drive a sharp recovery for those economies and further bolster demand for commercial trucks, he projects. In Japan, where the researcher foresees “another 20 percent of upside room” for truck sales overall, he is forecasting that Isuzu will expand turnover while taking additional market share. His price objective for Isuzu’s stock is ¥1,900; it was trading at ¥1,605.50 in late March. Hakomori also is touting Aichi-based Toyota Motor Corp. The world’s largest carmaker is poised to benefit from the yen’s depreciation and the expected growth of ASEAN countries, he believes, where its passenger vehicles enjoy high market share. In addition, Toyota’s redesign of its international multipurpose vehicle should further accelerate sales, he says. The line of three pickup trucks, a minivan and an SUV are the “most popular Toyota models for emerging-markets business,” says Hakomori.