Toshiya Mizutani Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co.

The buy side says: “He is consistent and trustworthy.”

Holding top honors for a sixth straight year, Toshiya Mizutani of ­Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. is “valued highly not only by investors but also by many construction companies,” asserts one ally. Mizutani, 53, published a report in April 2011, the month after the country’s northeast region was devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami, laying out the short- and long-term impact on the sector: At first, materials and building projects would be scarce, but then the need for reconstruction would drive growth. He reiterated an outperform on NEC Networks & System Integration Corp., at ¥999, making the case that the Tokyo-­based builder of telecommunications infrastructure facilities would benefit from strong capital expenditures. The stock surged 14.8 percent, to ¥1,147, and led the sector by 3.4 percentage points, through February. In anticipation of greater postquake demand for general contractors, Mizutani upgraded Kajima Corp. from neutral to outperform in November, dubbing the Tokyo-­based demolition-­services provider his top pick for 2012. — Ben Mattlin