Terry Bivens J.P. Morgan

Terry Bivens, who spent the past four years in second place, slips one notch to No. 3. The J.P. Morgan analyst “has a special knack for finding the nuggets of incremental information through his industry and company contacts that gives him a competitive advantage,” asserts one money manager. Bivens upgraded Kraft Foods of Northfield, Illinois, to buy, though later — and at a higher price — than the first-team analyst; he believed the company would enjoy accelerated earnings growth in 2011 and 2012, and he urged clients to get in early. From the time of his upgrade in January through the end of August, Kraft shares gained 10.2 percent.