< The 2015 All-Europe Research Team
Philip Middleton & team
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
First-place appearances: 12
Total appearances: 35
Team debut: 1990
Repeating in third place is the three-person Bank of America Merrill Lynch squad under the guidance of Philip Middleton. “Philip has been covering these stocks for a long time, and his knowledge is unparalleled,” attests one money manager who also commends the team leader for his excellent quality research, clear communication and accessibility. Of the 13 names in the London-headquartered analysts’ sector portfolio, British property/casualty insurer Saga is a favorite. “The market seemed to be treating Saga as a straightforward U.K. motor insurer, whereas, in fact, it has a diverse range of businesses and growth options,” says Middleton, 54. His group’s price objective for the shares is 200p; they were trading at 183.30p at the end of January.