Nozomi Moriya
UBS
Nozomi Moriya, who rises from runner-up to third place, is “young, intelligent and hardworking,” according to one portfolio manager. Another says the UBS researcher “is good at combining macro pictures and micro-level analysis.” Moriya urged investors to buy Ryohin Keikaku Co. in July, at ¥4,370, citing the Tokyo-based food and clothing retailer’s rising profitability and aggressive overseas expansion plans. In September, after the stock had surged 12.2 percent, to ¥4,905, she pounded the table. By mid-March the shares had soared to ¥6,470, for a 48.1 percent life-of-call advance that bested the sector by 5.2 percentage points. “In light of recent supply-demand, our stance on the sector is somewhat cautious, but I intend to watch closely to see if government policies boost demand,” the analyst says. — Pam Baker