Eiichi Katayama Nomura
second team Yasuo Nakane Deutsche
third team Yuji Fujimori Barclays
Eiichi Katayama of Nomura, who spent the past four years in second place, captures the top spot for the first time. “No one has a better understanding of the sector,” insists one client. Katayama raised Sharp Corp. from sell to buy in February 2009, at ¥742, making the case that by reducing inventory and cutting costs, the appliance maker would return to profitability. The stock surged 38.8 percent, to ¥1,030, through February 2010. Katayama, 43, joined Nomura in 1989; he earned an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management in 2000.
Deutsche’s Yasuo Nakane climbs one rung to second place. Nakane, who “provides a holistic view of the entire LCD supply-demand channel,” according to one investor, also recommended Sharp, although not until November, at ¥959, on improving earnings. Through February it gained 7.4 percent.
Yuji Fujimori spent the past four years at No. 1. In September he moved from Goldman Sachs to Barclays Capital, and this year lands at No. 3. Fujimori initiated coverage of Sony Corp. in October, at ¥2,550, with an overweight rating, citing management’s efforts to streamline operations. The stock advanced 19.6 percent, to ¥3,050, through February. During the same period the sector gained just 2.7 percent.
