London-based Gregor Kuglitsch guides the UBS duo up one level to third place. The researchers monitor 24 stocks with “unparalleled precision,” asserts one buy-side backer. Confident that the building-materials recovery will continue through this year, the analysts upgraded Swiss cement producer Holcim from neutral to buy in May, at Sf54.55, after it announced a significant cost-cutting plan. By the end of December, the shares had risen 22.6 percent, to Sf66.90. The analysts continue to back it, citing its exposure to rapid-growth economies in Asia and Latin America. “Greg is a real up-and-comer — someone to keep your eye on,” says one New York–based portfolio manager. — Ben Mattlin |
Consumer – Building & Construction: Third