Fernando Abdalla & team J.P. Morgan

Fernando Abdalla shepherds J.P. Morgan’s São Paulo–based crew to a third-place debut. Buy-siders continue to praise the two-member team for initiating coverage on Localiza Rent a Car with an overweight rating way back in December 2010, at 24.94 reais, citing its accelerating top line and a likely boost from lower interest rates. By the middle of July 2012, shares of the Brazil-based auto-rental agency had sped to 28.90 reais, for a gain of 15.9 percent in a period when the sector remained stuck in park. “This is an up-and-coming force worth paying attention to,” proclaims one buy-side enthusiast. — Ben Mattlin

RUNNER(S)-UP
Bruno Savaris & team Credit Suisse
Nicolai Sebrell & team Morgan Stanley