Michael Gambardella
J.P. Morgan
First-place appearances: 8

Total appearances: 17

Team debut: 1995

Although he drops back to second place after five years at No. 1, J.P. Morgan’s Michael Gambardella “is the man of steel,” insists one loyal portfolio manager. Largely in response to declining steel prices, in September 2012, Gambardella downgraded West Chester, Ohio’s AK Steel Holding Corp. and Cleveland-based rival Cliffs Natural Resources from overweight to neutral. Through August 2013, AK Steel’s stock plummeted 42.8 percent, from $5.87 to $3.36. Cliffs’ shares had fallen from $43.94 to $28.95 by mid-February, and that 34.1 percent drop prompted Gambardella to upgrade them to overweight, primarily on valuation. Although that was too soon, the analyst has stuck with the call, reiterating his overweight and adding Cliffs to his focus list in April, at $18.77. Five months later the shares had rebounded 11.2 percent, to $20.97; from April through August the sector declined 11.8 percent. Gambardella splits his time between New York and Stuart, Florida, and tracks 23 companies (two fewer than a year ago). — Ben Mattlin