BMO Nesbitt Burns has been ranked the top equity research group for the 25th consecutive year as determined by Canada’s leading institutional investors in the 2005 Brendan Wood International Survey.

“This accomplishment reflects the excellence and commitment to research by our firm, its predecessor firms, and the many talented people who have worked in our research department over the last quarter century,” said Eric Tripp, vice chairman, BMO Nesbitt Burns and head of the equity division, in a news release.

Brendan Wood International is an independent consulting firm. Since 1980 it has surveyed of Canadian institutional equity portfolio managers. The survey scores research teams and individual analysts based on the quality of their ideas, the knowledge of their sector, the level of service and value to institutional money managers.

In each of the past 25 years, BMO Nesbitt Burns or one of its predecessor firms has ranked number one for Canadian equity research.

“What these results should illustrate to investors is that BMO Nesbitt Burns believes in investing in research; we have made that investment throughout bull and bear markets; and this has contributed to a culture where analysts can pursue long careers as opinion leaders in their sectors and where their example can mentor younger analysts,” said Mike Miller, director of investment research, BMO Nesbitt Burns.

This year’s survey was the most extensive ever, involving 386 investors evaluating 591 analysts for a total of 9,461 evaluations. Brendan Wood ranked 14 teams, on average, in each sector of the 2005 survey.

BMO Nesbitt Burns had 23 of its research teams achieve all-star rankings out of a possible 32 sectors. BMO Nesbitt Burns was the only firm to have a team ranked in all 32 sectors.

BMO Nesbitt Burns also finished first for Best Morning Notes, Top Research Publications, Best Web site and Best Webcasts.