THIRD TEAM

Kenneth Bruce  BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research A “thorough and detailed understanding of asset qualities” helps Kenneth Bruce of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research claim third-place honors for a second consecutive year. In February 2010 the San Francisco–based analyst upgraded Capital One Financial Corp. from neutral to buy, at $36.48, primarily on valuation. In January, with the stock up 24.1 percent, to $45.26, Bruce named it his top pick, partly on improvements in consumer spending and debt. Shares of the McLean, Virginia–based institution shot above $56 in May before starting to drift back down; they closed August at $46.05, for a life-of-call gain of 26.2 percent that led the broad market by 14.3 percentage points.