NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ROTH Capital Partners (ROTH), www.roth.com , a full service investment bank recognized for providing financing and advisory services to emerging growth companies in the U.S. and China, today announced that several of its analysts received top honors in the recently published and widely followed Wall Street Journal “Best on the Street” Survey” and the Financial Times/StarMine Analyst Survey.

Mark Tobin, Director of Research at ROTH, stated “We are extremely proud that our analysts have been recognized by such distinguished publications for their stock picking prowess.” ROTH’s top performing analysts were named for their coverage of companies in the Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Restaurants, Asian Software & IT Services, and Software sectors.

Three ROTH research analysts were recognized for outperforming their peers in the Wall Street Journal “Best on the Street Survey,” which reviewed 2009 performance. The survey is based solely on an analyst’s stock picking acumen, and which stock recommendations generated the highest returns. The top performers of the 2009 survey include 220 analysts from 82 firms who covered 44 industry sectors. The 220 analysts were chosen from among a survey of 7,000 analysts at 500 firms.

Three ROTH research analysts also scored top rankings for their 2009 performances in the annual Financial Times/StarMine survey. For this rankings report, StarMine looked at 70,000 stock recommendations from 3,200 analysts and measured those analysts on the performance of their recommendations and the accuracy of their earnings estimates.

ROTH analysts receiving recognition include:

Anton Brenner, Senior Research Analyst, and Quinn Ruddick, Research Analyst, were ranked in the Restaurants category in the Financial Times/StarMine survey. Top performing stocks* under the Restaurants group include Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. (RUBO, +102%), Benihana Inc. (BNHNA, +80%) and BJ’s Restaurants Inc. (BJRI, +75%). In addition to this year’s award, Mr. Brenner is an eight-time member of Institutional Investor’s “All American Research Team” and six-time ranked analyst in the Wall Street Journal Survey “Best on the Street”.

Scott Henry, CFA, Senior Research Analyst and Head of Healthcare Research, was ranked #2 for his coverage of the Pharmaceuticals sector in the Wall Street Journal Survey. Top performing stocks* under Mr. Henry’s coverage in 2009 include, Santarus, Inc. (SNTS, +194%), Salix Pharmaceutical (SLXP, +188%) and Warner Chilcott plc (WCRX, +162%). Mr. Henry has also been previously awarded for earnings estimate accuracy by StarMine.

Adam Krejcik, Senior Research Analyst, and Nick Ning, Research Associate, received the #3 ranking in the Asian Software & IT Services industry by Financial Times/StarMine as top “earnings estimators.” Top performing stocks* under Mr. Krejcik’s coverage in 2009 include Perfect World Co., Ltd. (PWRD, +129%), Changyou.com Limited (CYOU, +121%) and NetEase.com, Inc. (NTES, +70%). Mr. Krejcik is one of six ROTH senior analysts with research coverage dedicated on U.S.-listed China companies. ROTH’s 12-member China research team, including 8 professionals in our Shanghai Representative Office, currently maintains research coverage on 66 U.S.-listed Chinese companies, the largest coverage for U.S. listed Chinese companies on the Street.

Nathan Schneiderman, Senior Research Analyst, was ranked #4 for his coverage of the Software sector in the Wall Street Journal Survey. Top performing stocks* in Mr. Schneiderman’s coverage in 2009 include LivePerson Inc. (LPSN, +283%), ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (CKSW, +278%) and MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR, +153%). This year represents Mr. Schneiderman’s fourth award in the WSJ “Best on the Street” survey.

Andrew Vaino, Ph.D., Senior Research Analyst, was ranked #1 for his coverage of the Pharmaceuticals sector in the Wall Street Journal Survey. In the Financial Times/StarMine Survey, Andrew received the #2 ranking in the Biotechnology sector, where he was recognized as a top “stock picker.” Top performing stocks* under Dr. Vaino’s coverage in 2009 include: NeurogesX (NGSX, +570.4%), Prolor Biotech, Inc. (PBTH, +283%) and Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SVNT, +136%). Dr. Vaino holds a Ph.D. in chemistry, an M.B.A., and is a former assistant professor of Chemistry at the University of Maine.

About Roth Capital Partners, LLC:

Roth Capital Partners, LLC (ROTH), is a relationship-driven full service investment bank focused on identifying opportunities for institutional investors in U.S.-listed equity securities of companies based in the U.S. and China. Headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, with offices throughout the U.S. and a Shanghai Representative Office, the employee-owned firm provides analytical research, trading, capital raising, and business combination advisory services. ROTH seeks to implement innovative financing strategies to efficiently meet the liquidity and valuation requirements of both its corporate and institutional investor clients.

*Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Roth Capital Partners, LLC ("ROTH") expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking or other business relationships with the covered companies mentioned in this press release in the next three months. For important disclosure information regarding the covered companies in this press release, please contact: The Director of Research at (800) 678-9147 or write to: Roth Capital Partners, LLC, Attention: Director of Research, 24 Corporate Plaza, Newport Beach, CA 92660.