< The 2016 All-Asia Research Team

Total Appearances: 10

Team Debut: 2000

Wai (Eddie) Leung and Sung Hwan (Sean) Oh lead their squad to a second consecutive No. 2 finish. Hong Kong–stationed Leung, Seoul-based Oh, and their Bank of America Merrill Lynch colleagues in Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney possess “diligence and forward-looking sector views that are totally helpful in the ever-changing China Internet sector,” applauds one asset manager. Evaluating the region’s Internet shares going forward, Leung projects that “economic conditions could increase the risk for cyclical business models like advertising and eCommerce, but sector growth still outpaces that of the offline economy.” Companies, in general, are “improving their monetization capabilities to explore revenue potential,” he adds. “The competitive landscape in the more developed markets in the region has been more stable than the emerging parts of the region, which often see more volatility in margins.” The six analysts produce research on more than 35 Asia ex-Japan Internet and media names. Another buy-sider singles out Leung for additional praise, saying, “He’s covered these stocks for a very long time, so he knows the industry in and out.”