Paula Kovarsky & team Itaú BBA

After a year in the runner-up position, the Itaú BBA trio under São Paulo–based Paula Kovarsky returns to second place. Tracking 13 companies, with plans to add more, the analysts pleased clients with a June 2011 downgrade of Brazil’s Braskem from outperform to market perform, at 21.76 reais, on weakening demand, growing competition from imports and a projected shortfall in raw materials. The petrochemicals producer’s shares plunged 44.8 percent, to 12.02 reais, through mid-July 2012; during the same period the sector fell by 16.2 percent. “Paula used to work in the industry and understands all the complexities,” observes one supporter. Recommendations for the year ahead include Colombia’s Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., on its steady cash generation, among other factors. — Ben Mattlin