Matthew Prior, Shaojing Tong & team
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Down one rung to No. 3 is the six-strong Bank of America Merrill Lynch squad under the direction of Matthew Prior, who works out of Sydney, and Hong Kong–based Shaojing Tong. “The sector is still sought as a defensive safe harbor while macroeconomic conditions remain uncertain,” Prior contends. “Health care stocks that are volatile or still trying to prove an effective strategy are not as desirable, as they start to lose their attractive defensiveness.” Among those that remain appealing is IHH Healthcare, a Malaysia-based operator of clinics and hospitals. The analysts told clients to buy the shares in August, at 3.11 ringgit, in part on the rising affluence of the population in markets the company serves. By the end of April, the stock had shot up 20.6 percent, to 3.75 ringgit, and led the sector by 3 percentage points. The team remains bullish. — Katie Gilbert