Press Release

To receive a copy of the 2008 Analyst’s Best Picks List, please contact your Raymond James financial advisor or use the Office Locator to find an office convenient to you.

December 10, 2007

RAYMOND JAMES RELEASES
2008 ANALYSTS’ BEST PICKS LIST

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Raymond James Equity Research Department has released its popular Analysts’ Best Picks list for 2008 to Raymond James’ financial advisors for their exclusive use with clients. The list, according to David Henwood, CFA and chief investment officer at Raymond James, highlights individual stocks that Raymond James’ analysts expect to produce superior overall results during the upcoming year.

This year’s Best Picks list includes 14 stocks that have undergone a rigorous screening process and, according to Henwood, “… appears to feature companies with above-average growth prospects and in most cases business opportunities that could lift 2008 EPS estimates for these companies over the course of the next 12 months.”

While past performance is not indicative of future results, since 1996, a total of 129 stocks have been recommended through the Analysts’ Best Picks list. Of this total, 92 advanced (71.3%) and 37 declined (28.7%) within the recommended holding period. The list has outperformed the S&P 500 by an average of 27.9% annually over the past decade. * Of course, an investor would incur commissions to transact these recommendations.

According to Henwood, list submission is limited to analysts with significant research experience and a minimum of three years following the recommended industry as lead analyst or five years of total sell-side experience. Analysts who choose to participate may submit only one stock for the list, which may only contain one company from any specific industry. In addition, because this is a static, one-year list, only those companies with a “Strong Buy 1” rating from a Raymond James analyst qualify.

“Each company must also have a market capitalization of at least $500 million and a stock price greater than $10,” Henwood continued. “If the stock price is under $20, the company is required to have market capitalization of at least $1 billion. Other conditions, such as average daily trading value of at least $10 million over the last 20 trading days, are also considered.”

Henwood reminds investors that individual results will vary and transaction costs related to investing in these stocks will affect overall performance. There is no assurance that stocks on the Analysts’ Best Picks list will achieve the results expected and investors may incur profits or losses.

“An appropriate strategy is to incorporate a disciplined, long term investment approach. Although incorporating stocks recommended by our Equity Research Department into an overall portfolio may be a good idea for many investors, investing in individual stocks, particularly small- and mid-cap issues, is not for everyone. It takes a strong risk tolerance, not to mention a good understanding of market cycles, to keep perspective in a down market.”

“Past performance is not indicative of future results,” continued Henwood. “However, based on the overall superior long-term record of our Analysts’ Best Picks list, we have high hopes for the 2008 edition.”

About Raymond James Financial
Raymond James Financial (NYSE-RJF) is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies. Its three principal wholly owned broker/dealers, Raymond James & Associates, Raymond James Financial Services and Raymond James Ltd., have more than 4,750 financial advisors serving 1.6 million accounts in 2,200 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. In addition, total client assets are approximately $221.5 billion, of which approximately $38.1 billion are managed by the firm’s asset management subsidiaries.

To the extent that Raymond James makes or publishes forward-looking statements (regarding management expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated expense savings, financial results, anticipated results of litigation and regulatory proceedings, and other similar matters), a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Raymond James’ control, could cause actual results and experiences to differ materially from the expectations and objectives expressed in these statements. These factors are described in Raymond James’ 2006 annual report on Form 10-K, which is available on raymondjames.com and sec.gov

*Annual average Best Picks total return performance minus the comparable S&P 500 performance, for 1998 through the close of December 6, 2007.

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