< The 2014 All-America Research TeamSara GubinsBank of America
Merrill LynchFirst-Place Appearances: 0

Total Appearances: 5

Analyst Debut: 2010Sara Gubins “thinks like an investor, in that her views are long range and consistent,” declares one asset manager. This quality helps propel the Bank of America Merrill Lynch researcher to her third consecutive No. 3 finish on this list. Gubins has for some time held a positive stance on Grand Canyon Education, a Phoenix-based postsecondary education services provider. In August — with the shares up 20.4 percent over the preceding 12 months, at $42.20, and ahead of the sector by 8.6 percentage points — she reiterating her buy rating, primarily citing steadily growing earnings. Grand Canyon was little changed in mid-September, closing at $42.42, but the analyst maintains her $56 target price. Another long-standing favorite among the 27 stocks in her sector portfolio is financial services outsourcer Automatic Data Processing. Positive drivers underpinning her confidence in the Roseland, New Jersey–based company include the dominance of its payment-processing platform and management’s plan to buy back shares. Over the 12 months through mid-September, ADP’s stock climbed 12.6 percent, to $83.46, and Gubins projects a rise to $95.

RUNNER(S)-UP
Gerald Bisbee
RBC Capital Markets

Hamzah Mazari
Credit Suisse