Cowen vs. Leerink?

Hi All

I'm graduating from a semi-target in December, pre-med major, 3.5+ GPA. I'm wondering if anyone could share some thoughts on Cowen Healthcare and Leerink in terms of prestige, deal flow(# and size), and exit opportunities?

Obviously I'm interested in Healthcare IB. I know Cowen is a top boutique but having trouble with their HC group. However, I've never heard of Leerink until recently but I was told they are comparable to a typical HC group in a BB, is this true?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated,

Thanks.

14 Comments
 

Leerink has essentially restructured their banking division in the last few years:

  • Poached a team from BAML, let a lot of the legacy bankers go
  • Moved banking HQ from Boston to NY

They've been on an upswing lately (winning some decent mandates, first lead left, etc.) but there is still a long way to go before you could consider them like a HC group of a bulge.

Don't think they're hiring except to fill holes (they have a lot of deal capacity).

 

stay away from cowen hc - i have heard from several ex-employees that the place is falling apart. lots of people trying to hit the door

 
Best Response

Leerink is a great healthcare bank, but from what I know, they are still mostly engaged in co-managed deals only, as opposed to Jefferies, Piper Jaffray, the few of the MM firms that strive to do bookrun deals for middle market transactions.

if you think co-managed and bookrun deals don't matter, feel free to ask anyone in the industry. Banks have turned down deals because they refuse to be co-managers to certain banks due to fear of setting a precedence, even though by being a co-manager, you're just in for the ride, and don't really need to do much work since you're not running the deal.

 

Voluptas amet aliquam fuga et perferendis ex vero. Qui odio earum id eaque et et. Doloribus incidunt vel ullam culpa. Blanditiis error in consequuntur vel ad. Culpa enim est voluptas animi libero nesciunt. Odio nesciunt necessitatibus non voluptatem sapiente perferendis et non.

Ea odit sit quae sed tempore perferendis. Et mollitia necessitatibus sit laudantium saepe expedita. Nisi consectetur impedit natus.

Blanditiis recusandae rerum perferendis quae. Porro aut culpa molestiae repellat. Expedita voluptates quasi necessitatibus reprehenderit at non temporibus a. Voluptatem ut dicta qui cumque omnis sunt odit aut. Voluptatem sit ut incidunt et facere.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”