Eight Analysts Earn Nine Awards in The Wall Street Journal's Annual Rankings ST. LOUIS, May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eight research analysts from A.G. Edwards earned a total of nine awards on the annual "Best on the Street" list, published in today's edition of The Wall Street Journal. The award total earned the St. Louis-based financial services company the top spot among the 72 research firms that made this year's rankings. The annual survey recognizes the best stock-pickers from across the country, ranking the top five in each of 44 industries this year. "These awards highlight the best stock pickers in the business, and to be at the top of the list -- with so many outstanding research firms included in the survey -- is truly a significant recognition," said Greg Sigmund, director of Equity Research at A.G. Edwards. "One of the most important things we can do is provide quality fundamental analysis and accurate recommendations for our financial consultants and our clients, so they can make informed investment decisions. This acknowledgement demonstrates the value of the research we offer, and we congratulate our analysts who made this year's list." The A.G. Edwards analysts making this year's "Best on the Street" list for their stock-picking acumen include: -- J. Jeffrey Hopson (Insurance: Life) - ranked 3rd out of 23 analysts; ten-year winner -- J. Jeffrey Hopson (Investment Services) - 5th out of 28 -- Brian Postol (Specialty Retailers & Services)- - 1st out of 85; second year on the survey -- Gregory Gieber (Home Construction & Furnishings) - 3rd out of 24; first year -- Donald Broughton (Industrial Transportation) - 3rd out of 25; second year -- Mark L. Reichman (Mining & Metals) - 4th out of 58; first year -- Michael S. Scialla (Oil & Gas Producers) - 5th out of 77; second year -- C.K. Poe Fratt (Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution) - 3rd out of 45; second year -- Ronald F. Londe (Utilities) - 2nd out of 47; third year Jeff Hopson, vice president and financial services group leader for A.G. Edwards, took home awards in two different industries. In addition to these honors, Hopson is one of only three current members of the newspaper's "Analysts Hall of Fame" to receive an award this year. Hall of Fame members qualify by winning awards in at least 10 of the 14 years of The Wall Street Journal rankings, or 8 of the last 10 years. Vice President and Specialty Retail Analyst Brian Postol finished first in his industry this year, with his recommendations outperforming those of 85 other analysts in the Specialty Retailers & Services sector. Out of 72 firms with analysts ranked in the survey, A.G. Edwards finished first. Although Citigroup also won a total of nine awards, the firm finished in second place based on A.G. Edwards' higher "batting average." The newspaper calculated the averages by taking each firm's number of awards divided by the number of analysts it had who qualified for the survey. A.G. Edwards earned nine awards from 43 qualifying analysts (for a batting average of 0.210), compared to Citigroup's nine awards from 60 qualifiers (0.150). Credit Suisse, Standard & Poor's, and J.P. Morgan Chase rounded out the top five, with each firm receiving eight awards. In determining results of the 14th annual survey, Thomson Financial considered data from more than 4,000 analysts at more than 280 firms. The company identified 44 industries thought to be of particular interest to investors, and awards were given to analysts in those industries based on a scale that gives credit for timely "buy" and "sell" recommendations. About A.G. Edwards Drawn to the firm's client-first philosophy, individuals and businesses have turned to A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. for sound advice and access to a wide array of investment products and services that can help them meet their financial goals and objectives. Founded in 1887, A.G. Edwards and its affiliates employ nearly 7,000 financial consultants in more than 700 offices nationwide and two European locations in London and Geneva. More information can be found on agedwards.com. How we do business A.G. Edwards generally acts as a broker-dealer, but may act as an investment advisor on designated accounts, and the firm's obligations will vary with the role it plays. When working with clients the firm generally acts as a broker-dealer unless specifically indicated in writing. To better understand the differences between brokerage and advisory services, please consult "Important Information About Your Relationship With A.G. Edwards" on agedwards.com/disclosures. DATASOURCE: A.G. Edwards CONTACT: Byron Goodrich, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Member SIPC, +1-314-955-3235, or Web site: http://www.agedwards.com/

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