Four Sterne Agee Research Analysts were recognized for their stock selection performance in separate national surveys by The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times/StarMine and Institutional Investor.
The following Sterne Agee Analysts were recognized:
• Mike I. Shafir, VP, Sr. Analyst: 2009 Financial Times/StarMine—#2 in US stock picking (repeated rank from last year.) Quote from Financial Times/StarMine release:
“The same excess return as Mr Huber’s was posted by the second-placed overall stock picker, Mike Shafir of Sterne, Agee and Leach, one of the oldest and largest remaining privately-held brokers. This was a repeat of his ranking in last year’s survey. Mr Shafir’s ranking is perhaps even more impressive given the deep uncertainty in the mortgage finance and commercial bank sector, which he covers. His overall excess industry return was down from 27.8% in 2007, demonstrating again the severe difficulty faced by stock pickers last year."
• Adam Barkstrom, CFA, Mng. Director: #3 Stock Picker: Banks—“Best on the Street: 2009 Analysts Survey” by the Wall Street Journal
• Sam Poser, SVP, Sr. Analyst: #3 Stock Picker: Clothing & Accessories—“Best on the Street: 2009 Analysts Survey” by the Wall Street Journal
• James Lee, SVP, Sr. Analyst: 2009 Institutional Investor All-Asia Research Team—Internet—Honorable Mention
May 15, 2009 - The Financial Times/StarMine "World's Top Analysts" survey recognized the top analysts in 2008 from the United States in separate earnings estimation and stock-picking categories.
May 18, 2009 - The Institutional Investor survey is a rank from professional investors' votes for best analyst in individual sectors covering companies throughout Asia.
May 19, 2009 - Sterne Agee finished 17th of 65 firms ranked in the Wall Street Journal “Best on the Street Survey.” Of the 30 firms with 15 or more analysts qualifying for the Wall Street Journal survey, Sterne Agee ranked #5 in batting average, a measure of percentage of analyst award winners as a portion of those qualifying.
The Wall Street Journal's 16th annual "Best on the Street" survey is based solely on stock-picking prowess; it's an analysis of recommendations that generated the best returns in 2008. The award winners were selected from among 1,925 analysts from 163 firms who met the survey requirements
Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. Sterne Agee is the trade name of Sterne Agee & Leach, Inc.