| Jaime Brandwood, William Vanderpump & team | | UBS | | "They provide great in-depth analysis and a deep understanding of the industry." | UBS claims the top spot for a ninth straight year, this time under the direction of Jaime Brandwood, 36, and newcomer William Vanderpump, 34. The London-based analysts initiated coverage on Switzerland’s DKSH Holding with a valuation-based buy rating in March, at Sf48.10, shortly after the outsourcing-services provider’s initial public offering. By the end of the year, the stock had bolted to Sf65.90, for a gain of 37 percent that beat the sector by 32.2 percentage points. Looking ahead, “we favor a combination of structural growth, earnings momentum and valuation in 2013,” says Vanderpump, who joined UBS in 2009 from Royal Bank of Scotland, where he worked as a support services associate analyst, and earned a bachelor’s degree in modern history from the University of Oxford. Companies currently rated buy include U.K.-based executive recruiters Capita and Michael Page International. Brandwood left the firm in November for Millennium Capital Partners, the London arm of U.S. hedge fund firm Millennium Management. — Pam Baker |