< The 2014 All-America Research TeamJohn GodynMorgan StanleyFirst-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 2

Team debut: 2013In just his second appearance on this list, John Godyn of Morgan Stanley earns second-place honors, rising from runner-up. Investors hail the researcher for his abiding and above-consensus bullish views. For example, Godyn has long maintained an overweight stance on Atlanta’s Delta Air Lines. He highlighted that position last October, crediting the major legacy carrier’s outsize free-cash-flow yield and high percentage of fully paid premium seats. Sure enough, through mid-September the stock soared 63 percent, to $39.20, far outdistancing the broad market’s 17.1 percent gain. He still favors it, setting a price target of $48. Looking ahead, says the researcher, his “top airlines growth pick” is Miramar, Florida–based discount carrier Spirit Airlines. A favorite since January, owing to the company’s ability to sustain rising prices and higher margins, the shares had rocketed to $68.36 by mid-September, gaining 42.4 percent over a period during which the nation’s broad market rose just 7.5 percent. The analyst believes that a price of $77 is justified. “He’s a real up-and-comer,” offers one advocate.