< The 2014 All-America Research TeamJason KupferbergJefferiesFirst-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 4

Team debut: 2009Jefferies researcher Jason Kupferberg advances from runner-up to No. 3, recording his best showing since he joined the roster in 2009. His portfolio encompasses 31 computer services and information technology consulting stocks, and Kupferberg prefers companies in the payment processing space over IT services providers. “In payments we continue to favor the business model, which benefits from secular tailwinds promoting the transition from cash and check to electronic payments,” he explains. “That in turn drives healthy recurring revenues, economies of scale and robust cash flows. In addition, the regulatory and legislative environment — which has historically been a meaningful risk factor for the payments space — is as tame as its been on a global basis over the past five years.” The analyst has a “great sense of investor expectations,” one fund manager declares, and “delivers far more than just earnings forecasts.”