Goldman Sachs Implements New Stock Rating System

NEW YORK – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) announced today that it has launched its new global stock rating system.

Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research now has three ratings, Outperform, In-Line, and Underperform, which are assigned relative to the stocks within each analyst’s stock coverage universe. Each analyst also has published a coverage view – Attractive, Neutral, or Cautious -- which represents their overall fundamental outlook on their coverage group of stocks. In addition, Goldman Sachs Investment Research has introduced a Current Investment List (CIL) designation that highlights its analysts’ best stock recommendations for absolute total return over a 12-month period.

At the outset of the new stock rating system, of the 1,874 equity securities Goldman Sachs Investment Research covers globally, the ratings distribution is 26% Outperform, 52% In-Line, and 22% Underperform. In the Americas, 24% equity securities are rated Outperform, 55% In-Line, and 21% Underperform. In Europe, 31% equity securities are rated Outperform, 44% In-Line, and 25% Underperform. In the Asia-Pacific region, 25% equity securities are rated Outperform, 56% In-Line, and 19% Underperform, and in Japan, 24% equity securities are rated Outperform, 59% In-Line, and 17% Underperform. The distribution percentages exclude equity securities covered by Goldman Sachs research analysts that are currently not rated or whose rating or coverage has been suspended.

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals. Founded in 1869, it is one of the oldest and largest investment banking firms. The firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.