Stifel Nicolaus Research Analysts Win Fourteen Awards in FT/StarMine Analyst Survey

ST. LOUIS--(Business Wire)--
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, a full-service brokerage and
investment banking firm, is pleased to announce that its research analysts have
won a total of 14 awards in the eighth annual FT/StarMine World`s Top Analysts
Survey, ranking the firm tied for seventh out of 192 firms. This marks the third
consecutive year that Stifel has finished in the top ten.

The survey recognizes analysts who have turned in exemplary performances either
as stock pickers or as earnings estimators during calendar year 2008. In
determining the winners, StarMine identified the top ten stock pickers and
earnings estimators overall and the top three stock pickers and earnings
estimators in 63 industries.

Stifel analysts recognized for their stock-picking skill in this year`s survey
were:

* David Ross, #1 in the Road & Rail Industry
* Scott Devitt, #2 in the Internet & Catalog Retail Industry
* William Loomis, #2 in the IT Services Industry
* Todd Weller, #2 in the Healthcare Technology Industry
* Steve West, #2 in the Restaurants Industry
* Drew Crum, #3 in the Media Industry
* Todd Weller, #3 in the Software Industry

In the earnings estimate accuracy category, Drew Crum was recognized as the #2
Overall Estimator out of more than 2,000 analysts. Other award winners for
earnings estimate accuracy were:

* Robert Craig and Jerry Herman, #1 in the Diversified Consumer Services
Industry
* Drew Crum, #1 in the Media Industry
* John Larkin, #1 in the Road & Rail Industry
* Mark Swartzberg, #1 in the Beverages Industry
* Todd Weller, #1 in the Software Industry
* Collyn Gilbert, #2 in the Thrifts and Mortgage Finance Industry

"We are once again very proud of the performance of our analysts in this year`s
survey," said Hugh Warns, Director of Research at Stifel Nicolaus. "Our #7
ranking marks our third consecutive year in the top 10 under the comprehensive
stock picking and earnings accuracy methodology that StarMine employs."

Founded in 1890, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated is the principal
subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF), a financial services holding
company headquartered in St. Louis. Stifel Nicolaus is a full-service retail and
institutional brokerage and investment banking firm with 236 offices in 36
states and the District of Columbia, and 3 European offices through Stifel
Nicolaus Limited. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the company`s web
site at www.stifel.com.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Research Media Relations:
Linda Olszewski, 443-224-1367

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