Economics & Strategy – Corporate Debt: Third

Altair Pereira of Bradesco Corretora lands in third place for a second straight year. “His long experience as a credit analyst and the way he builds his models are very helpful for understanding complex cases of high-yield debt,” explains one money manager. In light of Brazil’s depreciating currency, the São Paulo–based strategist is urging clients to consider companies that incur costs in reais and sales in dollars. Food producers are one example; they acquire commodities domestically but generate significant sales overseas, he notes. Because crop yields are increasing, owing to better weather, prices are stabilizing — and that will lead to better margins, Pereira observes. — Carolyn Koo