< The 2014 All-America Research TeamKenneth HoexterBank of America Merrill LynchFirst-place appearances: 0
Total appearances: 9
Team debut: 2005Rising one position to mark his strongest showing on this list since 2006 is Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Kenneth Hoexter, who captures second place. E-commerce is helping to lift airfreight carriers, the analyst advises, and one company that he deems poised to benefit from the trend is FedEx Corp. In July 2013, management at the Memphis, Tennessee–based package delivery and freight services provider announced plans to raise $1 million in investment capital, prompting the researcher to highlight his buy rating on the stock. He had upgraded FedEx from neutral in February 2012, at $93.09, largely because it was taking market share from Atlanta-based competitor United Parcel Service. By the middle of last month, the stock had leaped to $154.04, climbing 50.5 percent since his July reiteration and besting the sector by 30.8 percentage points over that period. It remains recommended, with a target price of $175. Hoexter monitors 33 U.S. airfreight and surface transportation names, winning client loyalty because he “provides extremely consistent and dependable analyses and timely updates, is always responsive and has superb management access,” one portfolio manager reports.