Ivy Zelman  Zelman & Associates The buy side says: “She’s the gold standard.”

Ivy Zelman racks up a tenth — and second straight — appearance in the winner’s circle. The All-­America Research Team Hall of Fame analyst “is willing to take a hard line on companies — and she backs it up,” declares one money manager. “Her words carry weight.” Zelman, 45, upgraded M/I Homes from hold to buy in July 2010, at $9.64, on valuation and on the Columbus, ­Ohio–based homebuilder’s relatively low debt-to-­capital ratio, among other factors. In January, after the stock had bolted 65.1 percent, to $15.92, and outpaced the sector by 51.7 percentage points, she advised investors to take profits. The stock had plunged 48.2 percent, to $8.24, and trailed the sector by 16.2 percentage points, by the end of August.