< The 2014 All-America Research Team

Total Appearances: 39

Analyst Debut: 1976Every year since 1980, through recessions, booms and the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, Hall of Famer Ed Hyman has remained investors’ preferred U.S. economist. The ISI Group co-founder and chairman has earned more first-place finishes than any other researcher, and his run of 35 straight No. 1 appearances will not soon be equalled: The longest active streak among the 11 other currently top-ranked Hall of Famers is 14 years, for Hyman’s colleague David Raso in Machinery. One market participant credits Hyman’s longevity as a fan favorite to his “unquenchable thirst to connect with people. Economics can be dull,” this admirer observes, “so instead of writing for economists, Ed writes for investors, portfolio managers and analysts. He knows what matters to them [and has] hit the niche — he brings economics home to Wall Street.” At present, Hyman is generally upbeat. “I’m sure the global economy overall is okay and will continue to expand,” he says. In particular, earnings will sustain their growth because monetary policies globally are “incredibly stimulative overall,” notes the 69-year-old analyst. “It’s unprecedented. Bond yields are low, inflation is amazingly restrained — I don’t understand why. Corn and gasoline prices are restrained, and wage gains are not accelerating, which means the economy will not take off but keep growing.” Finally, Hyman expects prices for such assets as real estate to rise, but he cautions that the odds of a market correction occurring remain high, though it might not happen for a while. Quoting legendary investor John Templeton, he reminds clients that “bull markets are born on pessimism, grown on skepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria.” At this time, results of a recent survey of hedge fund managers’ sentiments suggest that “certainly we’re not at euphoria,” he advises. “I think we’re positioned somewhere between skeptical and optimistic.” After maintaining his independence for some 23 years, Hyman agreed in August to sell his firm to New York–based investment banking boutique Evercore Partners. The deal, which values ISI at more than $400 million, is expected to close in the fourth quarter, whereupon he will become chairman of the combined equities business and a member of the executive committee overseeing that operation, in addition to continuing to work as a publishing economist. “I’m totally dedicated to continuing my regular role at the Evercore ISI platform working for clients,” Hyman declares. “I’m doing this forever.”