< The 2015 All-America Research Team

Total appearances: 8

Analyst debut: 2004

In his strongest showing on this lineup to date, John McNulty of Credit Suisse advances from runner-up to claim the No. 3 position. He has covered U.S. chemicals names for the firm since signing on in May 1999 and previously worked as an associate analyst tracking transportation companies at J.P. Morgan. McNulty, 45, oversaw Credit Suisse basic materials research until August, when he was named co-head of U.S. equity research (with Glen Santangelo, a runner-up on the Health Care Technology & Distribution roster). He holds a BS in management and a BA in international relations from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh University. Among the 22 U.S. chemicals companies he tracks, Sealed Air Corp. of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been a favorite since March 2013. Convinced that management at the industrial products and specialty packaging maker was committed to disciplined debt reduction and cost cutting, which would enhance earnings growth and elevate cash flow, he bumped his rating on the shares from neutral to outperform, at $23.28. By mid-September 2015, Sealed Air’s stock had rocketed to $49.98, advancing 38.7 percent during the preceding 12 months alone and outdistancing the sector by 54.4 percentage points over that period. “John is the best stock picker,” says one fund manager. “He isn’t afraid to go out on a limb and be early to identify companies that have turned the corner.”