Tal LianiBank of America Merrill LynchTal Liani repeats in second place; the Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst also captures the No. 2 spot in Data Networking & Wireline Equipment. Liani urged clients to buy Israel’s Allot Communications in November, at $15, making the case that the provider of Internet protocol optimization services would benefit from increased smartphone penetration, continued growth in wireless data traffic and deployment of new wireless technologies, among other trends. Good call. The stock had rocketed to $26.42 by late August, for a gain of 76.1 percent that bested the sector by 27.7 percentage points. “His research on Israel-based companies is second to none,” declares one ally, while another believes that Liani “combines all the ideal qualities desired in a top-notch sell-side analyst.”