BB&T Capital Markets analysts lead industry peers in picking stocks and estimating earnings

RICHMOND, Va., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BB&T Capital Markets equity research analysts have received some of the top honors among peers for stock recommendations and earnings estimates in two independent national surveys, conducted by StarMine/Thompson Reuters and The Best on the Street, conducted by The Wall Street Journal.

The StarMine survey also recognized BB&T Capital Markets again this year as one of the most productive brokers in the U.S. based on its ratio of individual award winners to the total number of qualified analysts.

"We are pleased to once again be recognized for the quality and accuracy of our analysts' work," said Rufus Yates, president of BB&T Capital Markets.  "Our disciplined and consistent coverage demonstrates our commitment to providing clients with timely and insightful market advice."

BB&T congratulates:

• John (Jack) Kasprzak:
  • No. 1 in Building Products for earnings estimates by StarMine.
  • No. 3 in Building Products for stock recommendations by StarMine.
• Holden Lewis:
  • No. 2 in Trading Companies and Distribution for stock recommendations by StarMine.
  • No. 3 in Trading Companies and Distribution for earnings estimates by StarMine.
  • No. 5 in Business and Industrial Services by The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street survey.
• Matthew McCall:
  • No. 2 in Commercial Services and Suppliers for stock recommendations by StarMine.
  • No. 3 in Home Construction and Furnishings by The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street survey.

StarMine's annual survey recognized the top U.S. analysts in 2010 in separate earnings estimation and stock-picking categories. StarMine, a Thomson Reuters company, is the world's largest and most trusted source of third-party equity research performance ratings.

The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street survey recognizes the top five stock pickers in each industry and identifies which analysts' recommendations generated the best returns. The top five analysts were identified from more than 6,800 analysts at more than 575 firms who met the survey requirements. Analysts were graded on a scale that gives credit to both timely "buy" and "sell" ratings. Of that group, 2,335 analysts at 196 firms met the survey's eligibility tests and qualified to have their research analyzed in detail.  

BB&T Capital Markets

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow LLC, a wholly-owned non-bank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation, provides a full-spectrum of investment banking and corporate banking services including M&A advisory, equity underwriting, equity sales and trading, debt capital markets, fixed income sales and trading, equity and fixed income research, corporate banking and syndicated financing.

Its industry research teams cover companies in the commercial and industrial; consumer; energy; financial services; healthcare services; technology; and transportation services industries. More information about BB&T Capital Markets is available at http://www.bbtcapitalmarkets.com.

About BB&T

BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with $157 billion in assets and market capitalization of $19.1 billion, as of March 31, 2011. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates approximately 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others. More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at www.BBT.com. More information about BB&T Corporation is available at www.BBT.com/About.

SOURCE BB&T Corporation