Andrew Steinerman | Andrew Steinerman JPMorgan SECOND TEAM Michel Morin Merrill Lynch THIRD TEAM Kelly Flynn Credit Suisse RUNNERS-UP Gary Bisbee Barclays ; Mark Marcon Robert W. Baird |
It’s four straight years in first place for Andrew Steinerman, who is described by one money manager as “the standard by which other analysts are measured.” Steinerman, 40, who joined JPMorgan Securities in June, when it absorbed Bear, Stearns & Co., urged investors to buy Strayer Education in July, at $206.65, arguing in favor of the growth prospects for the Arlington, Virginia–based provider of adult education programs. By mid-September the shares had risen 8.4 percent, to $224.02, outperforming the sector by 6.2 percentage points. “Andrew has a nose for differentiating between durable and flawed business models,” avers one enthusiast. Leaping from runner-up to second, Michel Morin “doesn’t stubbornly stick to opinions and promptly calls investors’ attention to fundamental changes,” notes one buy-side supporter. Recessionary fears prompted the Merrill Lynch analyst to downgrade Korn/Ferry International, an executive search firm based in Los Angeles, to sell in September 2007, at $22.21. Three weeks later, after the stock had plunged 25.3 percent, to $16.58, Morin upgraded it to hold, on valuation. By mid-September 2008 the share price had risen 7.0 percent, to $17.74. Although she drops one notch to third place, Kelly Flynn of Credit Suisse continues to impress clients with what one calls her “intellectual honesty.” Flynn upgraded Apollo Group in June, at $51.19, citing rising profits at the Phoenix-based education services provider. By mid-September the share price had shot up 31.6 percent, to $67.39. “She provides value-added insights,” says one happy investor.
