Paul Ginocchio
Deutsche Bank Securities
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 4

Team debut: 2010

From San Francisco, repeat second-teamer Paul Ginocchio monitors 23 names, providing “unique insights, especially in the small-cap space,” as one aficionado puts it. In September 2012 the Deutsche Bank Securities researcher initiated coverage on Strayer Education with a sell rating, at $67.99. The Herndon, Virginia–based for-profit higher-education provider had offered what he deemed excessive discounts, to compete with nonprofit rivals. Through August the stock plummeted 41.2 percent, to $39.96, and he retains his sell rating. A current top pick is Tacoma, Washington’s TrueBlue, thanks to its strong revenue growth. Ginocchio upgraded the shares from hold to buy in November, at $13.16 — just $0.27 and one week shy of their 12-month low. He further reasoned that the provider of temporary manual labor would likely benefit from Hurricane Sandy–related rebuilding. TrueBlue had bolted 84.8 percent, to $24.32, by the end of August. “Paul was way ahead of the pack on both those calls,” marvels another fund manager. — Ben Mattlin