Jason Mollin & team  Goldman, Sachs & Co.

The Goldman, Sachs & Co. trio led by Jason Mollin finishes third; last year the team was ranked second in Financial Institutions. The analysts are adept at “balancing big-picture, long-term considerations with near-term catalysts,” according to one investor.

In October the São Paulo–based researchers upgraded Brazil-based holding company Investimentos Itaú from neutral to buy, at R10.65, partly on its controlling stake in dominant Brazilian bank Itaú Unibanco Holding. Itaúsa’s shares seesawed amid market volatility, but by the end of July they were up 22.8 percent, to R13.08.