Simon Samuels & team, Barclays Capital

Previously unranked Barclays Capital lands in third place under the direction of Simon Samuels, who last appeared on the roster in 2009 as leader of the No. 3 Citi team. The London-based crew of nine is adept at providing “a big-picture view,” according to one ally. “Last year was a year in which effectively the sovereign-debt crisis in Europe and the banking sector intertwined,” explains Samuels. His team, which tracks 35 companies, has been cautious on the sector overall, as many banks have been under pressure to shore up their capital reserves, but believes that some firms will do well. Among the stocks they are recommending are Germany’s Deutsche Bank, HSBC Holdings of the U.K. and France’s BNP Paribas.