Carlos Peyrelongue
& team
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
First-place appearances: 5

Total appearances: 21

Team debut: 1993

Bank of America Merrill Lynch (and its predecessor firms) have ranked every year since the Latin America Research Team was introduced 21 years ago. Mexico City–based Carlos Peyrelongue took charge of the group in 2002 and this year guides the four-strong squad to a second consecutive second-place finish. But that’s not all. He also co-directs (with Guilherme Vilazante) the groups at No. 2 in Cement & Construction and No. 3 in Real Estate, and (with Francisco Rodriguez Caballero) the crew that ranks third for coverage of North Andean Countries. The analysts urged clients to buy the American depositary receipts of building-materials manufacturer Cemex in January 2012, at $6.72, and they’ve highlighted their recommendation repeatedly since. By mid-July 2013 the ADRs of the Monterrey-based outfit had surged 68 percent, to $11.29, and the researchers continue to recommend them, with a target price of $13.75. Cemex is a key supplier to the U.S. market, where “housing starts are slated to reach over 1.5 million by 2016,” Peyrelongue explains. “We expect cement demand to increase 7 to 8 percent annually.” The team leader “has tons of experience, plus a deep network of contacts,” observes one buy-side supporter. “His work is always of high quality.” — Paul Sweeney