2015 All-America Research Team: Leisure, No. 1: Gregory Badishkanian

Gregory Badishkanian

Citi

First-Place Appearances: 5

Total Appearances: 6

Analyst Debut: 2010

At No. 1 on this list for a fifth year in a row,Gregory Badishkanianof Citi “is the gold standard,” affirms one portfolio manager. A model service provider, the 46-year-old researcher “is affectionately known to many as ‘Gumby’ for his ability and desire to bend over backwards for clients,” another investor reports. “He is that rare and nearly extinct Wall Streeter who still puts the client first.” Regarding his positions on specific companies, Badishkanian wins investor praise for his steadfast advocacy of Miami’s Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Based partly on growing onboard revenues from the cruise ship operator’s addition of a greater variety of dining options, he has urged investors to buy the name throughout the past year. As of mid-September the stock was up 66.1 percent over the trailing 12-month period, at $61.36, and ahead of its peers by 57.6 percentage points. Badishkanian’s price objective for Norwegian Cruise Line is $64. Another favorite in the analyst’s coverage universe of 34 U.S. leisure companies is Polaris Industries. The Medina, Minnesota–headquartered company manufactures all-terrain, off-road and side-by-side vehicles, as well as motorcycles and snowmobiles. In addition to its strong positioning in the motorcycle segment, notably for its relaunched Indian brand, Polaris has new products coming to market and has increased its penetration internationally, he advises, and should deliver high revenue growth over the coming years. He projects significant upside for the shares: They closed at $126.80 in mid-September; Badishkanian believes that a price of $165 is justified. “Greg is great about connecting investors with executives,” a third admirer observes. “Specifically, his video webcasts with management teams are like visiting without the airplane.”