Jay Deahna |
First Team JPMorgan Second Team Third Team Runner-Up |
Up one notch to finish first for the first time, Newport Beach, California–based Jay Deahna “is the quickest when it comes to reacting to news,” observes one investor, noting that the JPMorgan Securities analyst’s call on Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates “made a lot of money for investors like me.” Deahna upgraded the Gloucester, Massachusetts–based manufacturer in February, after its chief competitor, Applied Materials, announced it was exiting the ion-implant business. By mid-September, Varian’s stock had skyrocketed 82.9 percent. During the same period the Philadelphia Stock Exchange’s semiconductor sector index was up 5.92 percent. Deahna, 44, who earned an MBA from Boston University School of Management in 1990, worked as a semiconductors sector analyst for Morgan Stanley before joining JPMorgan in 2002. Although he slips one spot to second, Citi’s Timothy Arcuri continues to impress investors with a macro view of the sector that does not overlook the micro details. During the past year, Arcuri has been bearish on the sector overall, but he was bullish on KLA-Tencor Corp. He recommended the San Jose, California–based company last October, citing its cost-cutting initiatives. In July, after the stock had risen 37.0 percent, he downgraded to hold on valuation. By mid-September the stock had slipped 8.1 percent. James Covello of Goldman Sachs, who repeats in third, “has been cautious, and for the most part, he’s been right,” says one client. Covello was right about FormFactor, named in January as his top pick for 2007, on the Livermore, California–based manufacturer’s strong earnings growth. In 2007 through mid-September the stock was up 24.1 percent. |
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Technology: Semiconductor Capital Equipment 2007