Soichiro Fukuda Citi
Advancing from third place to second is Citi’s Soichiro Fukuda, whose previous employment in Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox division makes him “more knowledgeable and valuable” than other analysts, according to one money manager. Fukuda discontinued coverage of two companies over the past year and now reports on 30, with no plans to expand. He favors online gamers over consoles, largely on their growth potential. Fukuda downgraded Kyoto’s Nintendo Co. from neutral to sell in January 2011, at ¥22,778, believing that its 3DS handheld device would not sell well. In September, after the stock had plummeted 48.2 percent, to ¥11,800, he raised it back to neutral, making the case that steep price cuts would boost 3DS sales. He was right. By late February, Nintendo’s stock had climbed 1.7 percent, to ¥12,000. — Pam Baker