Sriyan Pietersz & team
J.P. Morgan
Although J.P. Morgan slips from second place to third, the five-strong squad continues to earn accolades for “timely and insightful comments,” in the words of one investor. Sriyan Pietersz pilots the Bangkok-based crew. A favorite among the 42 stocks the analysts follow is Kasikornbank, dubbed top pick in February 2012, at 130 baht, because of the Bangkok-based full-service lender’s solid loan growth and expanding customer base. (They first upgraded the stock from neutral to overweight back in July 2008, at 67 baht, primarily on valuation.) By the end of April 2013, the stock had soared to 212 baht, gaining 63.1 percent since the reiteration and outpacing Thailand’s broad market by 36.3 percentage points. The researchers remain bullish. — Ben Mattlin