Paul Huxford & team
J.P. Morgan Cazenove
Although J.P. Morgan Cazenove tumbles from first place to third, the 32-member team led by Paul Huxford in London continues to “do a good job on customer relations — and their corporate access is very good,” insists one ally. Says another: “Better than anyone else, they help you understand how U.K. companies fit into the global context.” Upbeat in general about the financial services sector, owing to the European Central Bank’s willingness to keep interest rates low as well as banks’ ongoing restructuring to streamline expenses and enhance growth, the analysts believe London-based Barclays “offers the best risk-reward,” Huxford says. The stock ended last year at 262.40p, and the team has a target price that’s nearly 22 percent higher, at 320p.
— Paul Sweeney