Atsushi Yamaguchi UBS
second team Harunobu Goroh Morgan Stanley
third team Toshiyuki Johno Citi
In first place for an eighth straight year, Atsushi Yamaguchi of UBS wins praise for what clients call his “excellent knowledge” and “daily, broad-based updates.” Yamaguchi, 44, astutely placed a short-term buy on Nippon Steel Corp. in May, at ¥332, on rising steel prices, then downgraded it back to neutral in July as fully valued at ¥370, capturing an 11.4 percent gain in six weeks and avoiding the subsequent 10.3 percent plunge through February. A long-standing buy on Sumitomo Metal Industries, largely on its dominance in high-grade steel pipe, also paid off, as the stock advanced 36.9 percent in the 12 months through February.
After two years at No. 3, Harunobu Goroh rises to No. 2. In February 2009 the Morgan Stanley Japan analyst highlighted his buy on Furukawa Electric Co., a maker of aluminum cans and cable coatings, as a bargain at ¥255. Through February 2010 the stock catapulted 68.6 percent, to ¥430, and outperformed the sector by 33.9 points. Goroh publishes “timely comments on important news,” according to one satisfied buy-sider.
Toshiyuki Johno slips a notch to third place. Investors continue to praise the Citi analyst for his long-term buy on JFE Holdings, on increasing worldwide demand for steel. The stock soared 64.8 percent in the 12 months through February.
