JMP Securities Analysts Among Wall Street’s Best Stock Pickers

Surveys by The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.com-StarMine Rank JMP High Among All U.S. Firms and Best in San Francisco


SAN FRANCISCO, May 28, 2004 — JMP Securities, a research-driven, full-service investment bank serving growth companies and their investors, announced today that two major stock-analyst surveys released this month ranked the firm as one of the top stock-picking companies in the nation and the best among all San Francisco-based firms in 2003.

JMP had Wall Street's third-highest "batting average" (number of awards divided by the number of qualifying analysts), according to the "Best on the Street Analysts Survey" by The Wall Street Journal, and, with five awards, was ranked 12th out of all 80 firms examined. The Forbes.com-StarMine North American Analyst Awards survey named JMP analyst Jim Fowler as North America’s fifth-best stock picker and handed JMP five additional awards.

“These awards are a tribute to our diverse team of industry veterans who have the talent and passion for finding, researching and helping identify great ideas for our institutional clients,” said Craig R. Johnson, President of JMP Securities. “By doing thoughtful research and following the most promising companies in key growth sectors of the economy, JMP is poised for solid growth.”

JMP’s revenues soared last quarter to $14.4 million, a 177-percent increase over the $5.2 million generated in the same quarter in 2003.

In all, JMP analysts earned 10 stock-picking honors across a number of industries.

“Best On the Street Analysts Survey,” The Wall Street Journal
• Diversified Financial Services: Jim Fowler, second place
• General Industrial Services: James Wilson, fifth place
• Home Construction and Furnishings: James Wilson, third place
• Lodging: Will Marks, second place
• Real Estate: Jim Fowler, second place

Forbes.com-StarMine North American Analyst Awards
• Commercial Services and Supplies: James Wilson, first place
• Household Durables: James Wilson, first place
• Real Estate: James Fowler, first place
• Thrifts and Mortgage Finance: James Fowler, third place
• Semiconductors: Krishna Shankar, third place

JMP’s 14 senior analysts primarily cover small- to mid-cap companies in growth industries that collectively represent a substantial portion of the U.S. capital markets and M&A activity, and which represent a significant portion of the S&P 500. Currently, JMP covers 187 companies.

JMP Securities LLC is a full-service investment bank providing equity research, institutional brokerage and investment banking services to public and private growth companies and their investors. Headquartered in San Francisco, JMP Securities serves five industries that exhibit above-average long-term growth characteristics: Technology, Healthcare, Consumer, Financial Services and Business Services. For more information, visit www.jmpsecurities.com.

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