Alejandro Demichelis, Hootan Yazhari & team, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research

Down one position to second place is the BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research group of six shepherded by Alejandro Demichelis (who also co-directs, with Fiona Maclean, the No. 3 team in Oil Services) and Hootan Yazhari. Known for their “excellent stock selections,” as one money manager puts it, the London-based crew upgraded Sweden’s Lundin Petroleum from neutral to buy in March, at 79.60 Swedish kronor, on its fast-growing production in politically stable Norway. Shares of the midcap oil producer more than doubled, to Skr169.20, through December. “They helped us make money,” affirms another booster.