Kate McShane
Citi
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 6

Analyst debut: 2008

Citi analyst Kate McShane, who reclaims third place after a year as runner-up, “knows her industries and companies very well,” avers one happy client. “She keeps abreast of trends and writes thoughtful, insightful and thematic industry reports.” In March, McShane upgraded Columbus, Ohio–based shoe and accessories retailer DSW from neutral to buy. A week earlier the stock had dropped 6.2 percent in one day, when management released earnings-per-share guidance that the market viewed as lackluster, at $3.30–$3.40 for the fiscal year that began in February. But McShane believed that the company was just being conservative. DSW went on to report a better-than-expected first two quarters, and management raised its expectations for the full year, most recently to $3.60–$3.80 per share. Through August the stock traded up to $86.09, rising 33.6 percent and besting the sector by 24.3 percentage points. — Katie Gilbert