The 2014 All-Asia Research Team: Technology/Hardware, No. 3: Nicolas Gaudois, Arthur Hsieh & team

In its best showing on this lineup since 2006, UBS advances from runner-up to claim the No. 3 position.Nicolas Gaudois, working out of Hong Kong, and Taipei-basedArthur Hsiehco-pilot the five-person troupe, which also has a member in Seoul. One money manager especially appreciates the “global exposure and technology theme pieces” the analysts produce. Although Gaudois says they are “reasonably cautious” on the region’s hardware names — forecasting that a personal computer recovery after two down years is unlikely and anticipating a decline in revenue growth for mobile phones — they are recommending select suppliers that are gaining market share. One such player is Taiwan’s Catcher Technology Co., which makes metal casings for smartphones and is expected to enter the iPhone 6 supply chain. The researchers also are positive on some manufacturers of components for increasingly complex smartphone cameras, such as China’s Sunny Optical Technology Group Co., a leading maker of optical products, including camera lenses. Their price target is HK$9.50, and in late April the shares were trading at HK$9.30. Gaudois joins with Jonah Cheng in captaining the second-place troupe inTechnology/Semiconductors; alongside Diviya Nagarajan, he directs the No. 3 team inTechnology/IT Services & Software.