second team Barry Bannister Stifel Nicolaus
third team Jamie Cook Credit Suisse
Andrew Kaplowitz of Barclays Capital takes the top prize in this new sector. “Andy identifies the drivers that move stocks,” asserts one backer. In October 2008, Kaplowitz highlighted his long-standing buy on Fluor Corp., first recommended in January 2007, because of the Irvine, Texas–based maintenance company’s list of lucrative contracts. The stock, at $35.24 at the time of the reiteration, had jumped to $52.90 by late August, a gain of 50.1 percent that beat the sector by 17.5 percentage points. In February, Kaplowitz reiterated an overweight on Netherlands-based Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., citing the storage-tank manufacturer’s solid earnings. As of August 31 the stock had skyrocketed 203.3 percent, from $5.19 to $15.74. Kaplowitz, 36, joined Lehman Brothers in 2001 after earning an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management; Barclays acquired the North American assets of Lehman Brothers Holdings in the fall of 2008.
Barry Bannister of Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., who lands in second place, “analyzes key metrics going back over several market cycles, which is important for cyclical industries and provides a unique view of the big picture,” marvels one enthusiast. In April the Baltimore-based analyst reiterated his buy rating on Houston’s KBR, a construction outfit that serves the petrochemicals industry, citing stronger-than-expected earnings. The stock soared 45 percent through August, from $15.62 to $22.65.
In third place is Jamie Cook of Credit Suisse. The analyst downgraded URS Corp. in April, saying the San Francisco–based transport construction planner’s shares were fully valued at $42.56. The stock inched up only 1.6 percent, to $43.23, through August 31. “She told clients to take profits on defensive names, and it worked!” cheers one ally.
Click here to see the All-America Research Team rankings.
