< The 2014 All-America Research TeamPaul GinocchioDeutsche Bank SecuritiesFirst-place appearances: 0
Total appearances: 5
Team debut: 2010For a third year running, San Francisco–based Paul Ginocchio earns second-place honors on this roster, winning plaudits for what one fund manager dubs the “unmatched clarity” of his research product. Among the 25 companies in the Deutsche Bank Securities analyst’s sector portfolio is San Diego’s Bridgepoint Education. Ginocchio downgraded the for-profit online educator from hold to sell in November, at $19.61, citing its competitors’ price reductions. In May, when the stock had plunged 25.8 percent and was trailing its peers by 29.2 percentage points, he raised Bridgepoint back to hold, deeming it oversold. That upgrade may have been premature, however; as of mid-September the shares had slipped to $12.07. Going forward, Ginocchio prefers Equifax, a consumer credit ratings agency headquartered in Atlanta. He boosted the shares from hold to buy in April, on easing lending standards and accelerated consumer credit growth. Five months later they were up 16.5 percent, at $78.12, and ahead of the sector by 6 percentage points. The analyst foresees a further rise to $82.