Holding on to second place is Citi’s Deborah Weinswig, “the most plugged-in analyst in the sector,” as one money manager dubs her. “She knows everyone and has a great Rolodex,” the fan adds. Weinswig, who also is No. 3 in Retailing/Food & Drug Chains, says her names in this sector are displaying guarded optimism about the macroeconomic environment, “driven by improvements in consumer confidence, the equity market rally, the housing market recovery and easier sales comparisons in the back half of the year.” She believes the health of the high-end consumer is improving, while those with lower incomes are under pressure, thanks to the 2 percent payroll tax reinstatement, higher gas prices and federal sequestration. Convinced in February that Minneapolis-based Target would be a “key beneficiary” of the housing recovery because of its Threshold home decor line, she upgraded the retail chain from neutral to buy, at $59.81. The stock had risen 5.9 percent, to $63.31, by the end of August. “She is incredibly insightful into sector trends and the quality of management throughout an organization,” chimes another advocate. — Katie Gilbert |
The 2013 All-America Research Team: Retailing/Broadlines & Department Stores, No. 2: Deborah Weinswig