Prasad Deshmukh
Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
First-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 1

Analyst debut: 2013

Debuting at No. 2 in this sector is Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Prasad Deshmukh, who also captures a runner-up position in Consumer/Discretionary. Deshmukh is “selectively positive on the sector,” he says, and recommends that investors steer clear of companies whose limited pricing power leaves them vulnerable to rising raw materials costs. Instead, he advises clients to favor those names that have the flexibility to push prices higher if necessary. Calcutta-based ITC is a good example of the latter, he believes, because the diversified conglomerate’s cigarette business enjoys both strong brand positioning in the market and a more reasonable valuation than its large-cap peers. Deshmukh first recommended that investors buy the stock in July 2011 and most recently highlighted his stance in September, with the shares up 21.5 percent for the trailing 12-month period. From that restatement through mid-October, ITC climbed 6.1 percent higher, to 340 rupees, besting the sector by 3 percentage points. — Katie Gilbert