Leonardo Suárez & team It LarrainVial Corredora de Bolsa
After three years in third place, the 13-member LarrainVial Corredora de Bolsa squad rises one rung to second. Directed by Santiago-based Leonardo Suárez, the analysts provide “excellent client service” and “good corporate access,” portfolio managers say. Top picks for the year include two companies headquartered in Santiago: Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile and Latam Airlines Group. The team expects SQM — the world leader in producing specialty fertilizers, iodine and lithium — to benefit through the rest of the year from rising prices in all three commodities, Suárez says. Latam, created in August 2010 by the merger of Brazil’s Tam Linhas Aaéreas and Chile’s Lan Airlines, promises such synergies as “seamless passenger and cargo services” for international markets, he adds. The researchers provide “a unique level of coverage in Chile — they have more companies on their radar screen than anyone else,” marvels one ally. — Paul Sweeney