Lauren Lieberman Barclays Capital
In second place for a second year running is Lauren Lieberman. “The hardest-working analyst in the space and the most responsive,” is how one buy-side backer describes the Barclays Capital researcher. In September 2009, Lieberman reaffirmed her neutral rating on Colgate-Palmolive Co., at $74.75, telling clients that the New York–based consumer-products manufacturer’s sales growth was lagging those of its peers, with the inevitable result being an earnings slowdown. The stock was trading as high as $84.59 in late July, but when the company reported disappointing second-quarter sales a few days later, shareholders fled. The share price had tumbled to $73.84 by the end of August.
