< The 2014 All-China Research TeamYingbo XuCitic SecuritiesFirst-place appearances: 0
Total appearances: 2
Analyst debut: 2013Citic Securities’ Yingbo Xu secures the No. 3 position on this list, slipping from second place. Even so, attests one client, “Xu is diligent and has a very thorough understanding of the China auto space.” Working out of Beijing, the analyst covers more than 30 names across the auto industry, and he named SAIC Motor Corp. his top pick for 2014 in late January. Shares of the nation’s largest auto manufacturer, by sales, bore an historically low valuation, he noted: They were trading at 12.29 yuan and down 7.4 percent year to date at the time. Moreover, Xu credited management’s plan to launch the Shanghai-based company’s online-to-offline business, which finds potential customers online and brings them into dealerships. He reiterated his position in June, and by late last month the stock had rocketed 57 percent, to 19.29 yuan, besting the sector by 5.3 percentage points over the life of the call. Looking ahead, the researcher holds a “structurally positive” view of the group, he says. His preferred names for 2015 include state-owned enterprises, auto parts companies and new-energy vehicle suppliers. Specifically, he cites Chongqing-based Chang’an Automobile (Group) Co.; FAW Car Co. of Changchun, a long-standing favorite; and Shanghai’s Huayu Automotive Systems Co.