Michael Branca Barclays Capital
Michael Branca finishes in second place for a third year running. His “outgoing analytical style,” according to one money manager, underscores the Barclays Capital analyst’s contrarian views on stocks such as Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Branca initiated coverage of the Plano, Texas–based beverage manufacturer and distributor in April 2009 with an overweight rating, and he has highlighted his recommendation repeatedly since, even when many other analysts were urging their clients to sell the stock, owing to the company’s declining market share. Branca believed the problems plaguing Dr Pepper could be remedied and thought the company represented a great turnaround story, and he was right. In the 12 months through August, the stock bubbled up 41.5 percent, from $26.02 to $36.82, and bested the sector by 26.2 percentage points.
