Kelly Flynn Credit Suisse
After two years in third place, Kelly Flynn of Credit Suisse climbs back to second. Boosters praise the Boston-based analyst’s cautious views of for-profit education providers. In March, Flynn downgraded American Public Education of Charles Town, West Virginia, and Phoenix-based Grand Canyon Education from outperform to neutral as overpriced, at $44.20 and $24.25, respectively. By the end of August, the online colleges’ shares had plunged 43.8 percent, to $24.85, and 29.7 percent, to $17.05, respectively. “It was nonconsensus and controversial, and she nailed it!” cheers one buy-side backer.
