A.M. (Toni) Sacconaghi  Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.

The buy side says: “Toni dives deeply into every little aspect of a company.”

Touted as the “analyst’s analyst” by one buy-­sider, All-­America Research Team Hall of Fame inductee A.M. (Toni) Sacconaghi claims his tenth consecutive first-place finish. The Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. researcher delivers “by far the most thorough and thoughtful research on the sector,” declares another investor. ­Sacconaghi, 46, rarely changes his stock ratings; however, he did see reason to change his position on Apple — three years ago. He upgraded the ­Cupertino, California–based computer and mobile hardware giant from market perform to outperform in October 2008, primarily on the strength of the company’s long-term growth potential, and has trumpeted his position repeatedly since. Apple’s shares blossomed 58.3 percent, from $243.10 to $384.83, in the 12 months through August and led the sector by 28.9 percentage points. Sacconaghi remains bullish. “Toni is the best computer hardware analyst on the Street — bar none,” declares one portfolio manager. “He provides a degree of insight into covered companies and the industry as a whole that few of his peers can match — and he’s highly accessible as well.”