Leone Young | First TeamLeone Young Citi Second Team Scott Levine, JPMorgan Third Team Jonathan Ellis, Merrill Lynch Runner-Up William Fisher, Raymond James |
| Clients say “extensive experience” and “good industry contacts” help keep Leone Young in the top slot for a seventh straight year. In August 2006 the Citi analyst upgraded Allied Waste Industries, at $10.13, after a pullback in the share price because of earnings concerns. Young, 46, informed clients of operational changes, including cost-control measures, that would provide long-term benefits to the Phoenix-based disposal services company. The call was a bit early — the stock did not begin to gain momentum until last October — but by mid-September 2007 it was up 25.7 percent since Young’s upgrade. During the same period the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 16.8 percent. Debuting in second is JPMorgan Securities’ Scott Levine, who took over coverage of the sector following September 2006’s departure of former second-teamer Amanda Tepper. Levine is “pro-active and adds value,” according to one investor. One example: Last October he recommended Republic Services, a waste disposal company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. By mid-September the shares were up 18.4 percent. Also new to the team is Jonathan Ellis, who finishes in third. The Merrill Lynch researcher, who took over the sector in August 2006 after Lorraine Maikis (No. 3 last year) became a consumer analyst, provides detailed analyses of landfill accounting and a proprietary landfill pricing survey that “allow for greater insights into the profitability profile and operating nuances across companies,” lauds one money manager. Another fan of Republic Services, Ellis recommended the stock in February, at a split-adjusted $28.74. By mid-September it had risen to $31.22. | |
