Before striking out on his own eight years ago, he was named top portfolio strategist for nine consecutive years by Institutional Investor magazine.

It's not a bad idea," said Marshall Acuff, portfolio strategist at Smith Barney.

"The Big Board's system facilitates the process," one portfolio strategist said.

Among those named was Abby Joseph Cohen, Goldman's chief portfolio strategist.

Before taking charge of the expanded investment department, Mr. Cooperman was portfolio strategist and head of the firm's research department for 12 years.

Last year, he was ranked the top portfolio strategist in the annual survey by Institutional Investor magazine.

"The support that corporations provided in the past is no longer there," said Carmine Grigoli, chief portfolio strategist for First Boston.

Wall Street's top-rated portfolio strategist changed his view and recommended that investors buy stocks.

Steven Einhorn, portfolio strategist for Goldman, Sachs & Company, agreed.

As long as these advisers remain cautious, the market could go higher, say portfolio strategists who monitor the market sentiment numbers.