Meanwhile, UBS resumed coverage of several financial stocks, with analyst Glenn Schorr assigning a neutral rating to JPMorgan and Citigroup, as well as Bank of New York Mellon (BK), Greenhill (GHL), Morgan Stanley (MS), Northern Trust (NTRS) and State Street (STT). Schorr also resumed coverage of Goldman Sachs (GS) with a buy rating. Read more here.

In the financials I’m keeping an eye on Jefferies (JEF) and Greenhill (GHL), says Guy Adami. And I’m also watching Lazard (LAZ) and Raymond James (RFJ). They pulled back on Tuesday and I think it’s time to dip a toe.

19.7

31.2

I think boutique investment banks are the winners, says Guy Adami. You can’t race after them but Lazard [LAZ], Greenhill [GHL] and Jefferies [JEF] have been hiring when the others have been firing. They’re getting back to basics and at the end of this, they should be on top.

34.8

Bank on these Financial stocks: Kristin Bentz, The Talented Blonde and Senior Reporter Dan Freed handicap the Financials ahead of earnings this week.


Click here to watch the video.

Greenhill (GHL) was downgraded to Market Perform at Wachovia. 2008 and 2009 EPS estimates reduced to $2.40 and $3.69, from $3.20 and $4.05 due to the contracting pace of deal activity and tough comparisons verses 2007 results.

34.2

The investment bank recently announced a $100 million dollar buyback.

It also said fourth-quarter earnings rose 43 percent as advisory fees rose even as dealmaking slowed amid a credit crunch.

Greenhill attributed the strong advisory business to its focus on major corporations, which tend to make strategic investments, rather than on private equity or hedge fund firms that have different approaches.

The stock has a forward PE of 13.