Mariko Watanabe UBS
The buy side says: “She is an expert in niche companies that most other analysts don’t cover.”
Mariko Watanabe moved from Credit Suisse back to UBS in August but hasn’t budged from the top spot, which she has held every year that this sector has been published since 2005. (It didn’t run in 2007.) Watanabe “doesn’t just rely on valuation to make calls — she visits companies and sticks her neck out,” asserts one ally. Watanabe favors companies that are “experiencing strong earnings momentum”; Benesse Holdings, an Okayama-based provider of education services and business training, is among the stocks she’s currently recommending. For the second half of the year, the analyst likes names that can generate high levels of cash flow and possess growth potential — with key themes revolving around “earthquake reconstruction and housing demand.” Nichiha Corp., an Aichi-based building materials manufacturer, and Modec, an offshore-platform operator headquartered in Tokyo, are among her favorites. — Carolyn Koo
