SMH Capital Research Analysts Named Best on the Street 2009 by Wall Street Journal

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SMH Capital Markets is pleased to announce that two of its equity research analysts have been named top in their respective fields in the 2009 Wall Street Journal’s annual “Best on the Street” survey.

Managing Director David Yuschak, CFA, was ranked the third best stock picker in the Heavy Machinery & Materials category for 2009. He joined SMH Capital in 1999 as a special situations analyst covering engineering and construction, transportation and other companies located primarily in the Southwest. Yuschak has more than 25 years’ investment banking experience, including as director of research for a Midwest investment bank, a senior equity analyst for a Southwest investment bank and a senior portfolio manager for investment management companies located in Texas and Ohio. Yuschak holds a B.S. degree in Economics from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the University of Detroit.

David C. Smith, vice president, oil services & equipment, ranked fifth in the Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution category by the 2009 Wall Street Journal survey. Earlier this year, Smith ranked third in the Financial Times/StarMine’s “World’s Top Analysts Awards” for industry stock picking in the Energy Equipment & Services category. Smith, who recently joined SMH Capital to support institutional equity research coverage of the oilfield services industry, brings more than 10 years of experience to the company. Prior to SMH Capital, Smith served as a research analyst at J.P. Morgan, covering the oilfield services sector. Smith holds a B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Houston and an M.S. degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.

“SMH Capital’s goal has always been to build the best team of equity research analysts covering their respective industries – not the biggest. Our clients trust and rely on the in-depth relationships and analyst access SMH Capital provides, as well as industry reports and investment advice in the oil and gas, consumer, healthcare/medical tech device and general business/large industrial sectors. With this latest round of recognition by the Wall Street Journal, nearly half of our research group has been named Best on the Street,” said William W. Sprague, President of SMH Capital Markets, based in New York.

According to Sprague, other members of SMH Capital’s equity research team who have received recognition by the Wall Street Journal since 2005, include Michael Bodino, director of research and senior E&P research analyst (Wall Street Journal 2005 Best on the Street); Mark Reichman, vice president, energy master limited partnerships (Wall Street Journal 2006 Best on the Street); and Suraj Kalia, CFA, senior vice president, medical devices (Wall Street Journal 2005 Best on the Street). Kalia also ranked first in 2006 on Forbes.com’s list of stock pickers in Health Care Equipment and Supplies.

About SMH Capital

SMH Capital Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC) is a registered broker-dealer and a subsidiary of Sanders Morris Harris Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SMHG). The firm has offices in Houston, New York, Dallas and New Orleans, providing a full suite of investment banking services including private placements and public offerings of equity and debt securities, financial-advisory services in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings and recapitalizations, as well as institutional equity sales, trading, research, prime brokerage services for hedge funds and fixed income securities sales and trading. Additional information is available at http://www.smhcapital.com.

Sanders Morris Harris Group is a financial services holding company headquartered in Houston that manages approximately $8 billion in client assets. The subsidiaries and affiliates of Sanders Morris Harris Group deliver superior wealth advisory, asset management, and capital markets services to individual and institutional investors and middle-market companies. Its operating entities are SMH Capital, SMH Capital Advisors, The Edelman Financial Center, Dickenson Group, Leonetti & Associates, Miller-Green Financial Services, The Rikoon Group and Select Sports Group. Sanders Morris Harris Group has over 610 employees in 21 states. Additional information is available at http://www.smhgroup.com.