Official BB Ranking 2020
Top: GS, MS, JPM
Middle: BOFA, Citi, Barclays, CS
Bottom: RBC, Wells, DB, UBS
rising: Barclays, JPM, Citi, RBC
falling: DB, UBS, CS
Trending Content
| +251 | CVP 2025 Summer Analyst Class Is A JOKE | 112 | 35m | |
| +100 | The "Not So Obvious" things that get you a return offer? | 10 | 14h | |
| +93 | PJT Best EB in the next 5 years? | 46 | 13h | |
| +57 | Ex-JP Morgan analyst awarded $35M decade after NYC building’s glass door suddenly shattered on her | 15 | 23h | |
| +35 | Georgetown Placement for 2024 and 2025 | 20 | 19h | |
| +32 | Best IB group on the Street | 14 | 10h | |
| +31 | Pros and Cons of the BB coverage groups | 16 | 4d | |
| +28 | Barc vs WF for IB (Generalist) | 7 | 12h | |
| +28 | How to deal with egotistical team? | 6 | 12h | |
| +26 | BIG FOUR ARE PARADISE | 4 | 12h |
Career Resources
"Official" lmao. What’s the point in this
Superiority complex and people like to feel as though they actually matter.
Of course this is all very region & division-specific. For example, UBS are considered a top-tier equity shop (both S&T and IB) in Australia, yet GS would be bottom/mid tier.
Numbers don't lie people.
It's free if you just "register".
What’s everyone’s view on GS vs. JPM vs MS:
If you had an analyst/associate offer from each, in what order would you rank the offers.? Also what about if the offer was not in JPM healthcare, MS Tech, GS Tech (elite groups at each bank) which bank would you choose?
GS over all (excluding top groups) due to overall prestige and exits. I would also take GS Tech over MS Tech/JPM HC.
depends - definitely not JP because their group placement can’t fuck you and land you in ECM DCM or FIG. would definitely take GS Industrials/FIG/TMT over most MS groups. but would take MS M&A or MediaComm over GS industrials/FIG.
Why is cs falling?
it isn't. college freshmen just like to talk shit.
this aged like fine wine
God not this shit again.
I recall Someone mentioning WSO was thinking of a space where only certified users were allowed to interact. I wish they followed through. I’m so tired of these cliche topics that are absolutely meaningless.
Are you saying these rankings basically don't matter? These are all good banks to start one's career at?
It's topic dependent, so if you start a topic I think you can force only allowing certified users to respond.
There is a cert user only feature but a discussion has to be initially posted with that option selected. These random high school kids can still come in and start new bullshit discussions open to everyone.
it's possible, you can create a thread where only CU's can reply. I've generally shied away from doing it when I create threads, but the functionality is there
Bad topic but this could be helpful for someone in undergrad with 2 offers. For PE recruiting, I'd say these rankings are pretty accurate.
Exactly, idk why these sensitive boomers are so mad. This is essentially how headhunters view the BBs, it's not like OP said that DB employees are idiots and GS ones are geniuses.
I went to a nontarget and when I had offers from 2 BBs I had no idea which was better until I looked at WSO. If I went to the wrong one, my whole life trajectory would have been messed up.
Think you forgot to add Tobin & Co. under best tier
2030 rankings
Top: DB, Nomura, UBS Middle: BOFA, Citi, Barclays, CS Bottom: GS, MS, JPM
Honestly though this a pretty solid most recently updated list.
Wells is a BB - prove me wrong
Not enough nomura
This is honestly accurate, very few people work at GS/MS/JPM though, so enjoy the monkey shits.
If anyone has an offer from 2 banks, take the one in the higher tier. If same tier, go with people/culture.
Weird thing to say without consideration of groups or office if it is non-NYC. The difference between the "middle" and "top" here is less of a difference than the difference between groups.
Most BB offers are generalist and you have to network in to a group(Big reason why I went to an EB. You are absolutely right about NYC vs non-NYC; however, I'd say this ranking would be correct if there was a caveat that said "NYC offices and average group"
Thoughts on EB rankings (can this even be done?):
Tier 1: Evercore Centerview Partners (both have top-notch pay, amazing deal flow and supposedly solid culture)
Tier 1(b): PJT Partners (top-notch pay, mega deals, slightly less established) Moelis (top pay, established, but higher volume of smaller deals, somewhat notorious culture) Lazard (prestigious global brand, fantastic deal flow, but pay is on the lower end of the spectrum) PWP (heavy-hitter senior bankers, top pay, still relatively less established, fewer deals)
Tier 2: Greenhill (established boutique, but been on a downward trend) Guggenheim (some mega deals, but heavily group-dependent - namely TMT, HC and FIG, otherwise sometimes considered to be MM)
Assumptions: -NYC office -M&A (not inclusive of RX) -Also does not include top MM such as HLHZ, Jeffries, Blair, etc.
Not a fan of rankings, but generally agree with this
Why did you say Greenhill is on a downward trend?
ugh I hate to do another of one of the "this aged well" post but....
lazard pay is way higher as of recently, even A1 bottom bucket is 145 all in.
Ya, Laz just bumped all bonuses up by $20k, so pay is on par with other EBs (except Centerview of course). Worth noting, since that is a weakness of Lazard's that scrubs usually point to.
Not sure why PJT isn't in Tier 1 tho, given top 10 M&A last year, largest per deal size (but multiple large deals, not one outlier skewing the mean, with Abbvie, TDAm, all the MGM deals, Caesars, Danaher/GE, etc.), largest deal value per analyst by far especially after EVR expanded its class and top notch recruiting, virtually everyone goes to top PE or HF (most recent included BX, APO, Carlyle, CB, TPG and a couple tiger cubs).
Also don't forget about CVP's 3 year deal and the fact that they're less keen on their juniors recruiting (even tho people do it anyway).
Also tempted to maybe swap CVP and MOE? Idk, culture sucks but it's definitely established especially if you include LA
The 3 year contract sounds like it sucks, but talking to analysts there you have more of an excuse to wait til your 2nd year to recruit for PE (rather than being recruited MFs/top HFs. Analyst class is pretty small (~20) and the MDs do come bat for you. not to mention the $50k sign on bonus.
It’ll be interesting to see how (if at all) the big EVR layoffs shake things up.
Agreed, PJT should def be Tier 1a. I didn't make the initial post, but I otherwise generally agree with the EB rankings
It depends on whether you are talking M&A, Restructuring or Industry Coverage. And are you talking just being an analyst or overall? For M&A I think that list is pretty accurate although Lazard is still a tier 1 M&A firm. PWP is small and the senior guys make tons of money. PJT and Moelis restructuring great exit ops for distressed/credit hedge funds.
“Tier 1a” “Tier 1b” I’m going to fucking puke. Please get laid
What kind of exit ops can you expect from the bottom of the BBs? Assuming top bucket
Depends on a lot like group, school, gpa. The same headhunters will hit up gs, citi, and rbc guys. Just do the best you can - these rankings are only useful for someone sitting on multiple offers. If you are dead set on PE and already at any BB, just work your tail off and hope for the best.
How much does stats (school & SAT score) play a role in PE recruiting? Also, what do you recommend who accepted a Ft IB offer do to prep for PE recruiting?
It depends more on the group than the tier of the bank. For example, BAML LevFin will place much better for PE than Goldman ECM. You should try to get an offer from the most prestigious group at the most prestigious bank in that order.
I'd say it's a mix of group and bank. It's not like nomura tech will be better than morgan stanley fig.
We've had enough with your rankings. Please refrain from making new ones.
lol this whole thread is the blind leading the blind.
Intern and Prospect reacts only pls
Not gonna lie whoever made this is probably annoying to be around in real life, but the ranking is as "accurate" as any ranking can be.
The ranking is quite weak. Only 3 tiers? Like I might as well have made 1 tier stuffed all the BBs in and called it a "ranking"
Is it just me or is this ranking exactly the same as WSJ's Investment Banking Scorecard?
http://graphics.wsj.com/investment-banking-scorecard/
The objective ranking for BB's should literally be their revenue. So I actually think this ranking is pretty good.
RBC is a MM firm
Also does anyone have rankings for ECM/DCM?
Why is RBC a MM?
They literally say so on their website... https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/business/advice/mergers-and-acquisitions/i… it means that most of the deals they work on are not the same size that GS/JPM would work on.
On the link above, you can change them around to see ECM/DCM revenue!
Thanks but its just total revenue.
What about prestige/exit opps/ comp etc?
replace/or add RBC with jefferies
Neither is a bulge bracket bank
.
Everyone please welcome the incoming RBC intern
come on, bullying UBS is like beating up the disabled kid.
I feel like I see a rankings post every other week
so you're saying we're getting better at seeing less of these?! nice!
Wells is not a BB
Legendary: Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns . . . . .
Top: GS, MS, JPM Middle: BOFA, Citi, Barclays, CS Bottom: RBC, Wells, DB, UBS
These pointless popcorn threads will never stop b/c junior bankers love paying attention to crap senior bankers couldn't give 2 monkey poos about; banking is banking; so and so is not a BB and so and so is blah blah. Reality is that a "bottom tier" BB could have strong deal flow and pay bigger base & bonus than a "top tier" BB ranked higher on the league tables.
The comparison still exists but instead of bank - bank its sell/side - buy/side so most IB MD/D will probably be viewed on as a failure by their circle. Usually those at the "bottom" care the least about such rankings or think they are the top.
I can assure you that no MD/D is looked at as a failure. That has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever read on this forum. You should quit life and stop offering stupid opinions.
I'm sorry but RBC is still a balance sheet bank and not a BB..
They did ~300-400 Syndicated Loan deals, ~300-400 DCM deals vs a paltry ~100 M&A and ~100 ECM deals last year.
That is not the profile of a BB investment banking division and the people of this forum trying to push RBC as one have absolutely no grounds to. It's basically a slightly better version of HSBC or Nomura, nothing more.
Every BB would have a similar split though. Absolute deal count is just a reflection of where the market is. Market share is what matters, which is why league tables are more relevant.
In 2019 US league tables, RBC was 11th in M&A, 10th in high yield, 8th in leveraged loans. So where does that put them? Across the board pretty consistently either at the bottom of the BB’s or top of “the rest”. Arguing whether that makes them a “BB” is just pointless semantics that nobody really cares about except college students or analysts at RBC, DB, and UBS updating creds slides at 1am.
Also, while the US banking platform has made strong progress, they are still weak in trading/research and non-North America.
this isn't true, you can look at any data and league tables it supports that RBC is in fact a BB. Market share is what is relevant for rankings.
False. RBC is on transactions because of their balance sheet. League tables are deceptive for balance sheet banks. RBC would never sole advise on a transaction without a BB or EB
what makes UBS a BB then?
fwiw, I think both UBS and RBC are pretty bad lol
I consider them strong enough in certain areas + full service, so they’re basically a BB.
Wells is NOT a BB at all
Look, as a director at one of these firms, I'd say these tiers are pretty accurate for domestic M&A.
However, instead of beefing up the status of RBC and Wells Fargo, UBS should really be removed from consideration as a Bulge Bracket - the deals just aren't there to back it up, and these past few years aren't an anomaly.
What about DB?
DB is still a top 15 player, UBS isn't even top 30 for domestic M&A.
I'll be frank, I know nothing about s&t/research, so my statements only apply to IBD.
What have your hours been like throughout your career?
ok boomer, nice 2009 meme
Who let the intern speak?
Every year someone posts a thread like this and it is guaranteed the fastest way to trigger half the people on this site. I think it is hilarious
it's even funnier because its true
RIP Kobe
Unpopular opinion: there is no God, the universe is infinite, non of this matter, nothing we do matter, this ranking REALLY doesn't matter. Ricky Gervais' bits at the Golden Globes were amazing.
none* matters*
plz fix thx
What are people's opinion of MS vs. JPM? I feel like MS gets a lot of hype but in a majority of league table publications (merger market, factset, wsj, etc) they seem to be behind JPM in global M&A. JPM does more deals but not many more, which leads me to believe both have exposure to big deals.
I know MS is a leader in the Tech IPO front but if you were deciding between the two today, which would you go? Factoring in recent performance, future outlook and the way the banks have positioned themselves
Reprehenderit totam ut laboriosam fugiat impedit qui accusamus. Officiis non quo illum omnis ut officiis et. Reprehenderit vitae consequatur eveniet sapiente perspiciatis aliquam. Est quia voluptatem velit ullam provident laboriosam.
Natus voluptatem accusamus fuga dolorem soluta. Et aliquid earum labore dolor necessitatibus autem sed.
Quas quia qui ea veritatis accusamus inventore. Et voluptatem reiciendis a cumque omnis assumenda. Nulla nisi nobis aut nihil ullam.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Corrupti quaerat ab modi laudantium velit impedit. Est praesentium consequatur voluptatem nobis et. Quos excepturi impedit ratione aut quia autem culpa. Non eos facere aut provident sint. Dolorem cumque repellendus enim dicta et. Eum pariatur inventore non non quasi nobis beatae minima. Provident rerum eveniet adipisci atque vitae consectetur praesentium dolores.
Veniam aut recusandae ea quaerat fuga maiores in et. Numquam eos dolor ea corrupti quae ea. Sapiente quod quae ab illum.
Doloremque non alias enim eveniet. Sequi adipisci velit ullam aspernatur non modi numquam. Dignissimos voluptas praesentium aut. Nobis optio excepturi ex sed.
Ipsa vel nihil doloremque dolor ut enim vel. Aut ipsa est officia perspiciatis vel.
Sit sunt voluptas aut optio nisi accusantium. Sit sit sed natus labore eveniet odit est. Mollitia nihil qui molestiae veritatis.
Culpa quis vel voluptas quis. Corporis unde repellat dolor dolore quam explicabo ratione fugiat. Consequuntur nemo optio consectetur.
Ut quam aut autem quo numquam in explicabo. Reiciendis facere qui modi quia at accusantium. Debitis dolor aliquam quisquam sed.
Reiciendis totam et at aut et rerum et. Dignissimos enim natus quia modi doloribus molestiae nesciunt. Assumenda sed distinctio corrupti quia aut at quis. Dolore alias voluptatum deleniti recusandae. In occaecati laboriosam sit.
Placeat aliquam fugiat odio itaque necessitatibus. Quia nihil excepturi nostrum voluptatem cupiditate iste reprehenderit. Et fuga rerum voluptatum dignissimos sapiente. In porro velit et.
Illum velit neque ex. Sequi quibusdam quia et dolores quia id nesciunt. Et voluptas dolorem architecto dolorem molestiae voluptatibus. Non vero molestiae aut dolorem.
Voluptas deserunt vel voluptate qui voluptatem. Qui voluptatem et laborum. Sit qui omnis tenetur. Et autem maxime modi dolore officia.
Molestiae rerum molestiae nisi facere sit sed. Dolorem iste et libero impedit iusto quam nam. Repellat aliquam similique dolor repudiandae optio. Ut sapiente reiciendis sed illum. Ut earum ea ipsum quisquam dignissimos debitis repellat. Ut facilis nisi quam iste tempora.
Illo recusandae et deserunt modi voluptas voluptatem autem sint. Pariatur sed iure et quia asperiores voluptas dolorem dolores. Tempore molestias error quia sapiente dolores ut nihil. Nostrum soluta fugit animi quis iste expedita dolorem accusantium. Cupiditate iure ad vero dolores consectetur eos omnis.
Aut consequatur dolores explicabo et ipsum. Culpa corporis quia sit ex dolor. Dolorem deserunt autem et omnis placeat praesentium deserunt beatae. Porro vel vel culpa eum quaerat dolor eaque unde. Pariatur voluptatem aliquam neque voluptas aut praesentium. Dolores unde ut tempore accusantium. Est laudantium nisi aut atque consequatur.