Daniel Abut & team Citi
C iti ranked second last year in Banking & Financial Services. We divided that sector into Financials/Banks and Financials/Nonbanks, and the New York–based trio led by Daniel Abut is No. 2 again, in Banks. Abut, who also captains a crew that takes a runner-up spot for coverage of Argentina, has a “consistent analytical approach, great corporate access and unwavering approachability,” marvels one investor. With a growing coverage universe that now encompasses 15 stocks, the analysts initiated coverage on Mexico’s BanRegio Grupo Financiero in September 2011 with a buy rating, at 27.70 pesos, largely on the commercial bank’s plans to expand its small- and medium-enterprise financing. By mid-July shares of the commercial bank had soared 54.3 percent, to N$42.73. — Ben Mattlin