John DiFucci J.P. Morgan
In third place for a second year running is John DiFucci of J.P. Morgan. DiFucci launched coverage of Sybase with an overweight rating in November 2009, at $40.78, telling clients that the Dublin, California–based company’s “legacy database business provided a better-than-stable core, while its comprehensive mobility solutions provided options for future strong growth.” In mid-May, German business-management software developer SAP agreed to buy Sybase for a whopping $5.8 billion, or $65 a share; that’s equal to a 59.4 percent gain since DiFucci’s recommendation, or 64.1 percentage points better than the sector performed over the period. The deal was completed in late July. Grateful investors applaud DiFucci’s “good industry knowledge” and “aggressive, thorough channel work.”