MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 25, 2010)—Three Morgan Keegan & Co. equity research analysts were named among the nation’s best in the Wall Street Journal’s 2009 Best on the Street survey, published in today’s Wall Street Journal. Paul Bonenfant ranked third in the telecommunications equipment category, Harsh Kumar ranked third in the semiconductors category, and Destin Tompkins, Chartered Financial Analyst, ranked fourth in the restaurants category. Morgan Keegan’s analysts have been ranked among the industry’s best in 16 of the 18 years that The Wall Street Journal has published the survey.
“We are very pleased that Paul, Harsh and Destin have been recognized by the Wall Street Journal for their stock picking abilities,” said Elkan Scheidt, Director of Equity Research at Morgan Keegan. “This kind of recognition further exemplifies the daily dedication and expertise our entire research department brings to our clients.”
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Paul Bonenfant |
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Destin Tompkins |
This is the first time that Bonenfant, Morgan Keegan’s senior communications components analyst, has appeared on the Best on the Street survey. He joined the firm in 2005 as an associate analyst for communications equipment and assumed his current role in 2008.
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Harsh Kumar |
Kumar appears on the Best on the Street survey for a second time for his coverage of the semiconductors industry—he ranked third in the same category in 2007. Kumar, who also follows the system area networks industry sector, joined the firm in 2000.
Tompkins, a CFA Charterholder who follows the restaurant sector, is also featured on the Best on the Street survey for the first time. He joined Morgan Keegan in 2002.
The Best on the Street survey identifies the top five analysts in each of 44 sectors, based on the analysts' stock-picking skill in 2009. The data were assembled by FactSet, a Norwalk, Conn., company that tracks analysts' recommendations and earnings estimates. This year's Best on the Street analysts were selected from a universe of more than 7,000 analysts at more than 500 firms.
These top rankings are only the most recent accolades received by the firm’s equity research department. Earlier this month, seven Morgan Keegan analysts were ranked among the top three stock pickers and earnings estimators in their respective industry categories in the Financial Times / StarMine 2009 rankings of Wall Street's best brokerage analysts. Simon Leopold, Morgan Keegan’s communications equipment analyst, was ranked the #1 earnings estimator in the nation by StarMine. Also, in February, Barron’s ranked Morgan Keegan’s Focus List of recommended stocks first among 13 leading national and regional brokerage firms for returns for the five years ended December 31, 2009. The Focus List is a group of stocks selected from the firm’s research coverage universe believed to have the best potential to outperform the markets. February’s number one ranking marked the third consecutive time that Morgan Keegan’s Focus List has ranked #1 for the five-year period by Barron’s.
About Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., one of the largest full-service brokerage and investment banking firms in the nation, is the securities brokerage, trust and asset management arm of Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:RF). Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Morgan Keegan has over 300 offices in 19 states. Additional information about Morgan Keegan can be found at www.morgankeegan.com.
Contact:
Eric Bran
Morgan Keegan & Co.
901.524.4114
