THIRD TEAM Kate McShane  Citi

Kate McShane, who spent the past two years in the runner-up position, climbs to third place. Clients appreciate the Citi analyst’s ability to balance the “quantitative and qualitative aspects of investing in the apparel and footwear categories,” as one money manager puts it. McShane upgraded Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. from neutral to buy in January, at $108.02, forecasting higher revenues for the New York–based fashion designer. She was right: The company reported in August that year-over-year revenue rose 32.4 percent, to $1.5 billion, in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, which ended in July. The stock zipped to $137.11, a 26.9 percent advance that outpaced the sector by 14.4 percentage points, through August.