SECOND TEAM

Kenneth Usdin  Jefferies & Co.

Kenneth Usdin moved from BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research to Jefferies & Co. last October but hasn’t budged from second place, which he captures for a second straight year. Usdin is “a vital, detail-oriented resource,” says one client. The analyst initiated coverage on Zions Bancorp. in November with a buy rating, at $21.97, citing the Salt Lake City–based regional lender’s “attractive geographic footprint.” In early January, after the stock had jumped 12.5 percent, to $24.72, and was ahead of the sector by 2.2 percentage points, Usdin reduced it to hold, on valuation and on the bank’s exposure to risky commercial real estate, among other factors. The shares had plummeted 29.4 percent, to $17.44, by the end of August. “Ken asks the questions that most investors are thinking about,” attests another supporter.