After two years in second place, Mark Wilde slips to No. 3. The Deutsche Bank Securities researcher, who marks his 25th year at the firm (he joined Bankers Trust in November 1988), has expanded his coverage universe by two over the past year, so he now reports on 26 stocks. “Mark has some of the best contacts and seems to know everyone!” marvels one portfolio manager. In January 2012, when he learned of improved containerboard prices, owing in part to renewed export demand, Wilde upgraded Northbrook, Illinois–based KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. from hold to buy, at $17.53. When he downgraded it to hold in June 2013 as fully valued, shares of the unbleached-paper producer had more than doubled, reaching $36.61. “My only regret is that we jumped off a bit early,” Wilde reflects. The shares continued climbing, closing August up 14.7 percent, at $42. — Ben Mattlin |
The 2013 All-America Research Team: Paper & Packaging, No. 3: Mark Wilde