SECOND TEAM

Hiroshi Saji Mizuho Securities Group

Hiroshi Saji advances from third place to second. Clients praise the Mizuho Securities Group analyst’s “high-quality reporting and useful models” as well as his “nonvolatile recommendations that proved so helpful in defensive sectors.” Saji urged clients to buy Japan Tobacco in October, at ¥250,300, holding a bullish view on the Tokyo-based cigarette manufacturer’s earnings despite a large tax hike imposed that month. JT’s shares had shot up to ¥337,000 by late February, a gain of 34.6 percent that outperformed the sector by 21.2 percentage points.

Polling and tabulation of data as well as reporting on the sector profiles were completed before the March 11 Tohoku earthquake.