Karen Tang & team | Deutsche Bank | First-place appearances: 4 Total appearances: 6 Team debut: 2009 | Karen Tang guides the Deutsche Bank squad to its second straight appearance at No. 2 on this roster. Her team has expanded from five analysts to nine over the past year and maintains coverage on 25 Asian gaming and lodging names from offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Investors say they exhibit “a deep knowledge of the industry and companies they cover,” as one portfolio manager puts it. Overall, the sector advanced by 25.4 percent during the 12 months through April, against the broader regional market’s 3.8 percent gain. In that strong field, the Deutsche group looks particularly favorably on the Macau gaming segment. Improvements in transportation infrastructure and increasing middle-class spending bode well for those operators, Tang notes. The researchers are also keeping an eye on the Japanese market, given the potential legalization of casino gambling in that country. “Karen is always outspoken and not shy about her convictions,” says another admirer. “She frequently ‘kicks the tires’ of her Macau coverage and is able to provide the behind-the-scenes anecdotes necessary to supplement her arguments.” |