Stephen ChinUBSDown one notch to No. 2 is Stephen Chin, who is “outstanding at digging up information from regions where information is hard to get,” according to one buy-side supporter. The UBS analyst, who is also a runner-up in Semiconductor Capital Equipment, believes the sector is “still in the early stages of development, as demand is still dependent on government incentives to a good degree.” In addition, he thinks there are several subsegments, such as manufacturers of solar products and light-emitting diodes, that are currently in oversupply. Long term, therefore, alternative energy “will show secular growth as lower product prices will drive higher demand without the need for any subsidies,” Chin says. His recommendations include Veeco Instruments, on the belief that the Plainview, New York–based company’s LED equipment is attracting customers in the fast-growing general lighting market. He is cautious on solar stocks near term because of the intensity of competition from China and the declining gross margins of solar module makers.