Ed Hyman captured first place in Economics on Institutional Investor’s All-America Research Team for 35 consecutive years, from 1980 through 2014, establishing the longest winning streak in survey history. The Evercore ISI economist slips to the No. 2 spot this year, displaced by former colleague Nancy Lazar of Cornerstone Macro, but the crown for the longest unbroken string of sector-topping appearances among currently top-ranked analysts doesn’t travel very far — just down the hall, in fact, to Hyman associate David Raso, who’s never not been No. 1 in Machinery. This year marks his 15th appearance in the winner’s circle.
Although the latter analyst has to stay atop the sector roster for two more decades just to rival Hyman’s accomplishment, he does have an advantage: Raso was only 30 when he debuted in first place; Hyman was 35 when he first hit No. 1.
Two currently ranked researchers are right behind Raso, with 14 straight victories apiece: Meredith Adler of Barclays (Retailing/Food & Drug Chains) and A.M. (Toni) Sacconaghi of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. (IT Hardware & Electronics Manufacturing Services).
Insofar as the total number of first-place appearances are concerned, consecutive or otherwise, Hyman remains far out in front. Dennis Leibowitz, who last topped a roster in 1994 on behalf of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp., amassed 25 trophies in multiple consumer and technology categories. Among analysts still on the team, George Staphos of Bank of America Merrill Lynch has racked up the second-highest number of victories, with 16; this year marks his 12th straight appearance at No. 1 in Paper & Packaging.
