At Precursor Group, Independent-Minded Analysts Shake a Legg

Are Wall Street analysts really independent? With the following story, TheStreet.com continues its coverage of this important issue. For more about analysts and their performance, please see our analysts ranking package.

Skeptics often question Wall Street analysts' objectivity. Now one group of analysts hopes to prove its research isn't compromised by financial ties.

In the wake of its split-off last month from Legg Mason (LM Quote), the Precursor Group telecommunications-research boutique is marketing itself by trumpeting its analytical independence. A lack of investment banking ties and strict employee stock-ownership policies enable the group to provide the unbiased research that's difficult to find elsewhere, it says. ...