< The 2014 All-America Research TeamRoss MukenISI GroupFirst-place appearances: 0

Total appearances: 4

Team debut: 2010ISI Group’s Ross Muken holds on to the No. 3 position. His broad view of the U.S. life science and diagnostic tools names is somewhat cautious: “The sector has been mixed over the past six months,” he notes, “as core growth, excluding genomics, has not accelerated meaningfully, leaving capital deployment as a key differentiator. Unless there is a further acceleration in the macro, particularly in China and the emerging markets, stocks are likely to remain in a holding pattern and may possibly underperform health care.” In this environment, the analyst’s preferred players are Santa Clara, California’s Agilent Technologies and Washington-based Danaher Corp., based on the companies’ “discounted valuations, potential for strategic optionality and modest leverage to an improved macro, particularly in China,” he explains. Muken’s price objectives of $67 and $92.50 imply respective upsides of 15.7 percent and 20.7 percent to Agilent’s and Danaher’s trading values in mid-September. “Ross is on top of his names,” one supporter pronounces. “He really understands what is driving stocks now and into the future.”