SECOND TEAM
Neelkanth Mishra Credit Suisse
In second place is Credit Suisse’s Neelkanth Mishra, who wins points for an early bullish stand on zinc producers, especially his July 2008 upgrade of Hindustan Zinc from neutral to outperform, at a split-adjusted 53.14 rupees. Mishra was betting on rising zinc prices, a jump in the Udaipur-based mining company’s silver output, and its efficient, inexpensive production methods. Good call. By the end of May 2011, the stock had skyrocketed 160.4 percent, to Rs138.35, and blasted past the sector by a remarkable 115.6 percentage points; it surged 42.1 percent and beat the sector by nearly 40 points in the preceding 12 months alone. “Neelkanth takes the long view,” observes one ally.