Brian Tunick J.P. Morgan
second team Kimberly Greenberger Citi
third team Jeffrey Black Barclays
Brian Tunick makes his fourth straight appearance on top. One investor marvels at the J.P. Morgan analyst’s “photographic mind, which enables him to rattle off just about every worthwhile statistic on any company under coverage.” Tunick, 35, also earns acclaim for his bullish stance on Ross Stores, first recommended in April 2008 and highlighted repeatedly since, on the strength of the Pleasanton, California–based off-price retailer’s lean inventories, which allows store managers to change merchandise quickly. From Tunick’s original buy recommendation through August 31, 2009, the stock advanced 49.7 percent and bested the sector by 55.8 percentage points.
Citi’s Kimberly Greenberger returns in second place, for a third year running. Greenberger “does a great job digging into the numbers and not just parroting what management has said,” explains one fund manager. The analyst downgraded Children’s Place Retail Stores from buy to hold in May, at $32.54, on valuation, after shares of the Secaucus, New Jersey–based children’s apparel retailer had surged 50.1 percent since November. By late August the stock had slipped to $30.33.
Jeffrey Black of Barclays Capital rises from runner-up to third place. Black, described by one buy-side enthusiast as a “proficient financial modeler who knows when to agree with consensus and when to take a strong contrary stand,” upgraded TJX Cos. from hold to buy in May, calling shares of the Framingham, Massachusetts–based operator of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and other off-price fashion retailers a bargain at $27.94. Through August the stock surged 28.7 percent, to $35.95.
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