Toshinori Ito UBS
second team Satoshi Abe Daiwa
third team Shigeki Matsumoto Nomura
It’s four straight years in the top spot for Toshinori Ito, 50. In late November the UBS analyst reiterated his buy recommendations on Nippon Mining Holdings and Nippon Oil Corp., largely on the strength of economies of scale that would result from their planned merger, slated to take effect this month. The stocks jumped 36.3 and 33.7 percent, respectively, through February. During the same period the sector rose 20 percent. “I am always interested in his insightful ideas,” says one buy-side enthusiast.
Daiwa’s Satoshi Abe holds steady in second place. In June, Abe initiated coverage of Electric Power Development Co., or J-Power, with a buy as a bargain at ¥2,690. Through February the electricity supplier’s stock jumped 10.6 percent, to ¥2,975. “His views always have a sound backing,” asserts one proponent.
Shigeki Matsumoto bounds from runner-up to third place. In November, when shares of Tokyo Electric Power Co. dipped to ¥2,195, the Nomura researcher told investors to buy the stock, and he raised his price target, citing the nuclear-power generator’s likelihood of profiting from new carbon-reduction standards. Through February the stock rebounded 11.1 percent, to ¥2,439. “He has the underlying financial dynamics at his fingertips and is most helpful on the impact of emissions regulations,” explains one admirer.
