Merrill Lynch has announced sweeping changes to its research process, including a new rating system for stocks, and new performance-based compensation methods for research analysts.

The rating system, to be implemented in September, will provide clients with stock recommendations based on projections of total return and risk. The new rating system will show three dimensions: the 0-to-12-month investment recommendation, the projected risk as measured by potential price volatility, and the dividend outlook. It will drop the current long-term rating. As well, stocks will be rated: Buy, Neutral or Sell, with volatility risk rated as: Low, Medium or High.

The new compensation system, effective immediately, will base analysts’ pay on their industry expertise and performance, how their insights and recommendations benefit investors, as well as competitive factors. Investment banking will not have input into analyst compensation.

Performance will be evaluated on key measures, such as: accuracy of the analysts’ ratings, accuracy of their earnings estimate, client service to individual and institutional investors, surveys and input from investors, and, identifying and assessing investment opportunities for clients.

These changes, which implement terms of the company’s recent agreement with the New York State Attorney General, are just the beginning of a series of modifications to the research process. During the coming months, Merrill Lynch will also roll out several other initiatives to help clients gauge performance.

“These initiatives will increase the value we provide our clients,” said Robert McCann, senior vice president and head of the Global Securities Research and Economics Group. “We’re taking these steps to reinforce investor confidence in the quality, independence and insights of what we believe is the finest research team in the industry.”