Total appearances: 4

Team debut: 2011 Moving up one tier to claim his first top finish on this roster is São Paulo–based Bank of America Merrill Lynch researcher Thiago Lofiego. “He thinks like an investor,” proclaims one ally, pointing to several of Lofiego’s stock calls over the past year. For instance, in April the 31-year-old analyst downgraded Duratex, a São Paulo–based manufacturer of furniture and housing components, from buy to neutral on pricing pressure largely from declining demand for its wood panels. Duratex’s stock subsequently slid 20.8 percent, ending July at 8.37 reais and behind the sector by 15.4 percentage points. For the future, Lofiego favors Suzano Papel e Celulose, thanks to a rebound in its earnings and management’s deleveraging of debt. Shares of the Bahia-based developer of kraft pulp and fine paper were trading at 8.80 reais at the end of July, and Lofiego believes that a price of 11 reais is justified. “Thiago renders sound judgments,” insists another fund manager. The analyst holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Brazil’s Fundação Getúlio Vargas and joined BofA Merrill in 2007 from a similar position at Itaú BBA. This year, Lofiego also earns a runner-up position in Metals & Mining.