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John Hodulik | John Hodulik UBS SECOND TEAM Simon Flannery Morgan Stanley THIRD TEAM Michael McCormack JPMorgan RUNNERS-UP David Barden BofA ; Craig Moffett Sanford C. Bernstein ; Michael Rollins Citi |
John Hodulik of UBS, in first place for a second consecutive year, “has a strong understanding of the telecom industry and great access to information and insights regarding fundamental operational trends,” according to one portfolio manager. “Given that telecom is one of the worst-performing sectors over the past 12 months, my best calls have been downgrades,” says Hodulik, 39. The stumbling U.S. economy prompted the analyst in June to downgrade AT&T of Dallas and New York’s Verizon Communications, on fears that a consumer spending slowdown would undermine profitability. By mid-September the stocks had fallen 12.9 and 6.5 percent, respectively, against the sector’s 11.5 percent decline. Simon Flannery of Morgan Stanley repeats at No. 2. “He is consistently thoughtful and willing to go against the grain — and management spin,” notes one loyalist. In April, Flannery upgraded Monroe, Louisiana’s CenturyTel, calling the stock a value at $30.39. The share price had zoomed 31.5 percent, to $39.96, by mid-September. Michael McCormack, who joined JPMorgan Securites in June, when it absorbed Bear, Stearns & Co., stays in third place for a second straight year. “Mike is a practical stock picker who gives the straight scoop,” declares one buy-side enthusiast. McCormack highlighted his downgrade of Qwest Communications International in December, at $6.61, on concerns about the Denver-based outfit’s declining market share. By mid-September the share price had taken a 43.1 percent nosedive, to $3.76.
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