Michael Exstein Credit Suisse

Michael Exstein of Credit Suisse takes third-place honors for a fourth straight year. “He is one of the few analysts to see the big picture and not get caught up in the short-term hype,” insists one buy-side backer. Exstein issued a valuation-based buy recommendation on Family Dollar Stores last October, at $28.05, reasoning that the Charlotte, North Carolina–based discount retailer had taken steps to streamline costs, so it could expect higher margins going forward. The stock had vaulted 52.5 percent by the end of August, closing the month at $42.79.