Philipp Zieschang & team, UBS
Philipp Zieschang’s 11-member UBS crew spent the past two years atop the roster; the Zurich-based team dips to second place this year but continues to wow clients with “unbeatable local coverage combined with insightful regional reporting,” as one portfolio manager puts it. That’s because only five of the analysts are devoted exclusively to Swiss stocks; the remainder include pan-European names (with support from 23 other researchers covering the region). “The fact that several of our Swiss-based analysts cover additional European sector stocks such as banks, chemicals, or utilities and renewable energies is important for our strong footprint in the local market,” Zieschang explains. All told the firm reports on 85 Swiss companies. Although the euro crisis is dampening investor enthusiasm for Switzerland, “earnings momentum for Swiss stocks has [been improving] as the currency falls and their defensive qualities come through,” he notes. Among the team’s current recommendations is Baar-based specialty-chemicals manufacturer Sika, on improving margins stemming from price increases and lower raw-materials costs.