Jonathan Leinster & team, UBS

Jonathan Leinster, who won third-team honors for the past three years as a solo analyst, leads a UBS crew of two that lands in second place. The London-based team covers four companies and is bullish on the sector — which advanced by 24 percent last year, while the broad market declined by 12.2 percent. Reasonable valuations, strong and accelerating cash returns, and an exaggerated cyclical swing in 2010 brought on by stormy economic conditions have all factored into the analysts’ recommendation, and they believe the sector will continue to do well this year. Leinster “knows these companies inside and out,” marvels one backer.