Takato Watabe Deutsche Securities
The buy side says: “Watabe-san provides precise earnings forecasts.”
Repeat first-teamer Takato Watabe, 44, “has an extensive industrial understanding of petrochemicals, textiles and electronic materials,” according to one client. The Deutsche Securities analyst, who is also a runner-up in Paper & Textiles, publishes research on 19 companies — the same number as last year, but he hopes to expand coverage this year. Watabe upgraded Toray Industries from hold to buy back in June 2010, at ¥466, partly on its strong carbon-fiber profits. Shares of the Tokyo-based maker of synthetic polymers and specialty plastics surged 24 percent, to ¥578, through February 2012. Watabe also earns points for reiterating a hold rating on Tokyo-based petrochemicals provider Tosoh Corp. in April 2011, despite a postearthquake rally that had driven the share price up to ¥282. The stock retreated 15.2 percent, to ¥239, and lagged the sector by 12.9 percentage points, through February. For the year ahead, Watabe remains bullish about petrochemicals, especially Sumitomo Chemical Co., largely because of its growing pharmaceuticals and agriculture businesses. — Ben Mattlin
