Gregorio Tomassi
& team
Itaú BBA
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 2

Team debut: 2009

In third place is Itaú BBA, which returns to the roster after a three-year absence. This time the crew is captained by Mexico City–based Gregorio Tomassi, who also co-leads (with Joaquín Ley) a team that earns a runner-up spot for coverage of Mexico. The analysts report on ten companies and plan to increase that total later this year. They are bullish on information technology services providers, “as the combination of organic growth and inorganic actions will continue to drive top-line growth,” Tomassi explains. Sonda, a Chilean outfit with operations in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and other markets throughout the region, is their current favorite. Mexico-based telecommunications companies, such as América Móvil and Grupo Televisa, “will face a challenging second half driven by significant uncertainties represented by a new regulatory environment that will begin by mid-September,” he adds. “Brazilian telecom names, trading at historically low valuation multiples, still offer the best choices in telecoms.” — Pam Baker