MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 10, 2007)—A total of six Morgan Keegan & Company equity research analysts were among the top-ranked earnings estimators and stock pickers in the nation in the Forbes.com/StarMine 2006 rankings of Wall Street’s Best Brokerage Analysts published May 1, 2007. Brent Rakers was ranked the #1 earnings estimator and the #2 stock picker among analysts covering the trading companies and distributors industry. Bob Derrington, Brian Ruttenbur, Brad Stephens, Simon Leopold and Robert Dodd were also ranked among the top three analysts in their respective industry sectors.
Forbes.com, homepage for the world’s business leaders and the No. 1 business source in the world, partnered with StarMine, the leading provider of objective ratings of securities analysts, to measure analysts’ performance based on the return of their stock recommendations and the accuracy of their earnings forecasts. The full list of rankings and the survey methodology are available at www.forbes.com.
"This marks the fifth consecutive year that members of our research team have appeared at the top of these rankings," said Elkan Scheidt, managing director and Director of Equity Research at Morgan Keegan. “It is a testimony to the professionalism and dedication of our entire equity research team and their commitment to our clients."
Rakers, a managing director with Morgan Keegan, retained last year’s #1 ranking among earnings estimators who follow trading companies and distributors by taking the top spot again. A chartered financial analyst, Rakers joined Morgan Keegan in 1995 as an oil services industry analyst before initiating coverage in industrial distribution in 2004.
Bob Derrington, managing director, was ranked the #1 earnings estimator among analysts for the restaurant industry after placing second last year. Derrington has been with Morgan Keegan since 2001.
Brian Ruttenbur, managing director, was the #2 earnings estimator among analysts for the electronic equipment and instruments industry, moving up one spot from last year’s rankings. A former United States Air Force commissioned officer who joined Morgan Keegan in 2000, Ruttenbur follows the homeland security technology sector.
Brad Stephens, first vice president, received his first ranking from Forbes.com/StarMine as the #3 earnings estimator among analysts following the textiles apparel and luxury goods industry. Stephens, who joined Morgan Keegan in 2005, follows the soft-lines retail industry.
Simon Leopold, senior vice president, received his first ranking in the annual poll as the #3 earnings estimator among analysts following the communications equipment industry. Leopold joined Morgan Keegan in 2004.
Robert Dodd, senior vice president, broke into the Forbes.com/StarMine rankings as the #3 stock picker in the information technology service category. Dodd, who joined Morgan Keegan in 2001, follows the transaction processing industry.
About Morgan Keegan & Company Inc.
Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest regional full-service brokerage and investment banking firms, is the securities brokerage subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF). Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Morgan Keegan has over 400 offices. Additional information about Morgan Keegan and Regions – a member of the S&P 100 Index – can be found at www.morgankeegan.com and www.regions.com.
Contact:
Eric Bran
Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc.
901/524-4114
