Stephens Inc. Analysts Top Ranking of Stock Pickers, Earnings Estimators
(Little Rock, AR; May 10, 2006) -- Stephens Inc., a full service investment banking and brokerage firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, announced today that three senior analysts were named in the Forbes.com/StarMine 2005 ranking of Wall Street's Best Brokerage Equity Analysts. The analysts ranked among the top stock pickers and/or earnings estimators in their respective coverage areas, based on earnings forecasts and recommendations made during 2005.
For the second consecutive year, Todd Cooper was ranked second among earnings estimators in the Electrical Equipment sector. In addition, he was named the second best stock picker in the Semiconductor & Semiconductor Equipment sector. Mr. Cooper is a Managing Director at Stephens Inc., where he spearheads Power Electronics research. Mr. Cooper joined Stephens Inc. in 1997, covering the Power Supply/Power Semiconductor industries.
Stephen Sanders was ranked first among analysts for earnings estimate accuracy in the Electrical Equipment sector. Mr. Sanders is a Managing Director with Stephens Inc., where he follows the Electrical Equipment & Energy Technology subsector. He joined the firm in 1996.
Alexander Brand, CFA, received a first-place industry award among earnings estimators in the Airfreight & Logistics sector. Mr. Brand is a Managing Director at Stephens Inc., where he co-heads the Transportation equity research team, focusing on Airfreight, Logistics and Barges. Based out of the Richmond, VA, office of Stephens, Mr. Brand has been covering transportation equities for more than 10 years.
"As a private company, Stephens Inc. can cultivate independent, high quality research, backed by some of the top analysts in the country. We focus on small and mid-cap research - the areas where we can capitalize on market inefficiencies and provide the most value for our institutional clients. We are pleased that Todd, Steve and Alex have been commended for their work product," commented Brian Bush, Director of Research, Sales & Trading at Stephens Inc.
About Forbes.com/StarMine
Forbes.com, homepage for the world's business leaders, partnered with StarMine, the leading provider of objective ratings of securities analysts, to measure analysts' performance based on the return of their stock recommendations (buy, sell and hold) and the accuracy of their earnings estimates. These awards are based on the performance of analysts' recommendations and estimates for U.S. and Canadian companies during calendar year 2005. For its analysis, StarMine uses estimates and recommendations as recorded in the Thomson First Call database. StarMine uses the Global Industry Classification System for its industry definitions.
Stephens Inc.
The Research Department consists of 19 analysts and 17 associate analysts, all of whom provide fundamental equity research in a wide range of industries and together cover more than 225 stocks. The research effort blends industry knowledge and company research with proprietary localized market intelligence. In tracking public companies within various industries, Stephens performs in-depth analysis of companies' products and services, corporate strategies, financial positions and accounting practices.
Stephens Inc. is a full service investment banking firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1933, the firm serves a broad client base which includes corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, institutional investors and individual investors throughout the United States and overseas. The firm is self-clearing and a member of the New York Stock Exchange and SIPC. Stephens' services include investment banking, money management, wealth management, securities underwriting, equity research and general securities brokerage and trading.
Today, Stephens maintains offices within Arkansas in Little Rock, Conway, Hot Springs and Fayetteville, and outside Arkansas in Atlanta, Austin, Baton Rouge, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Nashville, New Haven, New York City, Oklahoma City, Richmond, St. Petersburg, Washington, D.C. and London. For more information, please visit www.stephens.com.
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Fitzsimmons
303-938-9199
