Brian Tunick | Brian Tunick JPMorgan SECOND TEAM Kimberly Greenberger Citi THIRD TEAM Dana Cohen BofA RUNNERS-UP Jeffrey Black Barclays ; Paul Lejuez Credit Suisse ; Lorraine Maikis Merrill Lynch |
Clients say Brian Tunick, who captures the crown for a third consecutive year, provides a “fresh and realistic take on what’s going on,” says one invesor. Buy-siders also praise the JPMorgan Securities analyst for his call on Ross Stores. Tunick, 34, upgraded the Pleasanton, California–based fashion retailer to buy in April, at $31.16, on rising sales. The stock had soared 25.3 percent, to $39.04, by mid-September. During the same period the sector gained just 4.2 percent. Kimberly Greenberger of Citi makes her second straight appearance in the No. 2 spot. “Kimberly is a retail analyst who doesn’t start conversations about color palettes and opinions of floor sets — how refreshing!” delights one money manager. Greenberger downgraded Gap to hold in March, at $21.14, on valuation. From her downgrade through mid-September, the stock had slipped 8.4 percent, to $19.37. Dana Cohen finishes in third place for a fourth year running. The Banc of America Securities analyst has an “excellent nose for identifying companies that are in the process of turning the corner,” declares one buy-side investor. Cohen has held TJX Cos. of Framingham, Massachusetts, as her top pick since July 2007, reasoning that management’s promotional and cost-cutting initiatives would propel the discount clothing retailer’s sales. As of mid-September 2008 the stock was up 17.2 percent, to $34.00.
