| Its three years in a row at No. 3 for Jason Goldberg. The Barclays analyst covers 32 companies, including both large- and midcapitalization banks (and he claims a runner-up spot in Banks/Midcap). Goldberg is hailed for promptly addressing all the issues that pop up, as one ally puts it. I swear he never sleeps, contends another backer. In February the analyst upgraded BB&T Corp. from underweight to equal weight, at $27.66, largely on its loan growth and profitable insurance business. Shares of the Winston-Salem, North Carolinabased bank jumped 14 percent, to $31.54, through August; during the same period the sector gained 13.2 percent. Goldbergs current recommendations include San Franciscos Wells Fargo & Co., which he considers underpriced and well capitalized. Jasons analyses help us assess our positions, affirms a third investor. RUNNER(S)-UP Betsy Graseck Morgan Stanley Edward Najarian ISI Group |