Andrew Ripper & team
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
After two years at No. 2, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch threesome helmed by Andrew Ripper drops one notch to third place. From offices in London the analysts follow 23 stocks — down from 27 last year at this time — and plan to expand their coverage universe in the coming months, Ripper says. They have an upbeat outlook for the year ahead, believing that the sector “offers good structural growth, particularly in testing, outsourcing and power rental, and a cyclical upside in staffing for 2013 owing to a gradually improving economy,” he notes. Experian, a data services provider headquartered in Ireland, remains a team favorite. The researchers warrant praise for their “forensic analytical approach,” as one money manager puts it, while another applauds the team’s “great communication skills.”
— Pam Baker