Emerson Leite & teamCredit Suisse
Credit Suisse’s Emerson Leite and his threesome slip one rung to the third team. Based in São Paulo and monitoring ten companies, the researchers are hailed for their recent emphasis on the supply chain, especially an August 2011 downgrade on the American depositary receipts of Brazil’s Petróleo Brasileiro from outperform to neutral, at $28.28, on disappointing production growth. “They took a more thorough look at the company than anyone else and found its future production would remain severely hampered,” recalls one grateful investor. The oil and natural gas supplier’s ADRs fell 29.9 percent, to $19.82, through mid-July. Favorite stocks going forward include Brazil-based petrochemicals manufacturer Braskem, in anticipation of a recovery in the market. — Ben Mattlin
RUNNER(S)-UP
Christian Audi & teamSantander
Frank McGann & teamBank of America Merrill Lynch