Kenny Lau & team
Credit Suisse
In second place for a third consecutive year is the Credit Suisse crew under Hong Kong–based Kenny Lau. “I like his coverage on the less-covered names, which gives us new investment ideas when the share prices are underappreciated by the market,” says one money manager. The nine analysts cover 101 companies from offices in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. “We still like China small caps, which are offering favorable long-term risk-reward ratios,” Lau says. “Should China end-demand resume after consolidation, we believe the sector will be one of the least expensive in Asia, offering interesting upside in the second half of 2013.” Recommendations include Kingboard Chemical Holdings, which manufactures circuit boards, laminates and other products. “We like it as a leveraged play for the China end-demand recovery,” Lau explains. The Hong Kong–based company’s shares were trading at HK$17.58 in late April, and the researchers have a target price of HK$28. — Leslie Kramer