Hideyasu Ban Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co.

Hideyasu Ban debuted in the runner-up position last year in Insurance; we broadened the sector to include Other Nonbank Financials, and the Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co. researcher slides into third place. “He understands well how to value his companies and is incredibly hard working,” observes one fan. Ban, who covers 17 stocks, notes that “a flattish yield curve and limited macroeconomic growth are always challenging for financial stocks.” In addition, last year’s massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident put pressure on insurers’ earnings and drove down valuations — but the situation has begun to normalize, he says. Ban is advising clients to focus on companies that will most likely report strong profit guidance and become more shareholder friendly either by increasing dividends or buying back shares; he cites as one example Tokyo-based diversified financial services firm Orix Corp.  — Leslie Kramer

RUNNER(S)-UP
- Aya Fujiki UBS
- Mitsumasa Okamoto Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Wataru Otsuka Nomura Securities Co.