< The 2014 All-America Research TeamMichael BinettiUBSFirst-Place Appearances: 0

Total Appearances: 3

Analyst Debut: 2011At No. 3 is UBS’s Michael Binetti, who rises from last year’s runner-up position. This year the analyst has been pounding the table on New York–headquartered global shoe and apparel retailer Foot Locker, a stock he has recommended since 2011. One of the many recent reiterations of his buy rating was in a March report explaining that price increases at Beaverton, Oregon–based sports apparel giant Nike — the brand that represents more than 70 percent of total products sold at Foot Locker outlets — and strong basketball trends would be a boon to the stock price. Indeed, Foot Locker’s shares were then up 14.3 percent year to date, leading the sector by 21 percentage points, and by mid-September had jumped 22.3 percent higher, to $57.13, against the sector’s rise of 5.2 percent. “Binetti always digs incredibly deeply into his companies,” observes one supporter. “He knows the numbers and industry data points better than anyone.”

RUNNER(S)-UP
Matthew Boss
J.P. Morgan

Kate McShane
Citi