< The 2015 All-America Research Team
Ryan Brinkman
J.P. Morgan
First-place appearances: 0
Total appearances: 3
Analyst debut: 2013
After his 2013 debut on this list as a runner-up, J.P. Morgan’s Ryan Brinkman stepped up to third place, and he wins that spot again this year. The analyst, 35, “has the best earnings estimates,” reports one fund manager. “Though he’s relatively young, he’s really set to go places.” Among the companies that Brinkman has recently begun actively tracking is Akron, Ohio–based Goodyear Tire & Rubber. In July 2014 he initiated coverage with an overweight rating on North America’s leading tire manufacturer, at $28.20, crediting high demand, low raw materials costs and an improved labor situation. When the stock drooped to $19.44 in October — largely on a broader market retreat and investors’ souring sentiment toward automakers — the analyst reiterated his recommendation, pointing to Goodyear’s cost reductions and stronger margins. Sure enough, by the middle of last month the shares had rallied 8 percent since his initial report, climbing to $30.46, and paced the sector by 20.1 percentage points. He forecasts a further rise to $37. Brinkman, who monitors 22 U.S. autos and auto parts names — and counting — “is from a Detroit family with three generations working in the industry, which gives him conviction,” attests one buy-side researcher.
