2015 All-Asia Research Team: Insurance, No. 1: Bin (Ben) Lin & team

<The 2015 All-Asia Research Team Bin (Ben) Lin & teamMorgan StanleyFirst-place appearances: 4

Total appearances: 11

Team debut: 2003

The five-person Morgan Stanley crew under the direction ofBin (Ben) Linrepeats in the top spot. From their posts in Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea, the analysts follow some 40 regional insurance names, and they are bullish on the group over the long term. Although the shares already had soared 42.3 percent during the 12-month period through April, outperforming the broader market by 27.7 percentage points, the researchers foresee further upside, thanks to an expanding middle class likely to drive demand for the products offered by providers in the sector. They recommend that clients pay particularly close attention to Hong Kong–based insurers, says Lin, 32, because they are most likely to be beneficiaries of the biggest growth spurts. Regarding specific names, investors should “be selective,” he adds. “We prefer companies with proven track records, quality management teams, sustainable business models and strong balance sheets.” Examples include Hong Kong’s AIA Group, a multiline provider; and Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, which is among the country’s largest life insurers.