THIRD TEAM John Murphy  BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research

John Murphy of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research, who nails down third-team honors for a fourth straight year, “gives you the big picture on the industry with a three- to five-year focus on factors that will impact profitability, such as new car launches, product pipelines and market share,” explains one buy-side backer. Clients continue to sing the praises of Murphy’s long-standing buy on BorgWarner, first recommended back in August 2009, at $29.30, and highlighted repeatedly since on the belief that the Auburn Hills, Michigan–based concern’s innovative products — including fuel-efficient technology, turbochargers, emission systems and diesel cold-start technology — will remain in great demand. The stock zoomed to $71.39 in late August 2011, for a stunning 143.7 percent life-of-call gain that trounced the sector by 102.8 percentage points.