| William Schmitz spent the past seven years in the runner-up position, but this year the Deutsche Bank Securities analyst rises to third place. “Bill is the best writer on Wall Street,” declares one buy-side backer. “His reports are insightful and often funny.” And lately, bearish. “Too many investors are hiding in these names, and earnings multiples should contract as we see better relative growth in other places,” he says. Schmitz upgraded Colgate-Palmolive Co. — a New York–based manufacturer of deodorants, mouthwash, toothpaste and other personal care products — from neutral to buy in April 2011, at $81.73, on its increased penetration in emerging markets. In July 2012, when the shares had risen 31.1 percent, to $107.17, he downgraded them to neutral, primarily on valuation. By the end of the following month, the stock price had drifted down to $106.31. RUNNER(S)-UP John Faucher Christopher Ferrara Dara Mohsenian Wendy Nicholson |
