Nordic institutional investors now rank SEB number one among larger tier-one institutions, and the bank further reduced the distance to number one in the overall ranking.
The survey ranks providers based on how institutional investors assess different parts of the equities value chain.
According to Erik Golrang, head of SEB’s Equities unit, the result demonstrates the value of a long-term strategy focused on client proximity and high-quality services.
“We have improved our score for four consecutive years. We believe this reflects a strategy that works, based on staying as close to clients as possible and offering services that clearly add value,” Golrang says.
SEB’s overall score this year climbed to 4.15 from 4.1 last year. In the tier-one segment, the score climbed to 4.34 from 4.1.
The survey covers four key areas: equity research, sales, execution and corporate access, the function that brings investors and listed companies together. It also measures market penetration and the extent to which clients view a provider as a core counterparty. Around 70 institutional investors participated in the assessment.
Focus on quality rather than volume
SEB's approach has been to focus on quality rather than volume, such as in research where the bank prioritises deeper and more extensive analysis. It has also continued to develop its corporate access offering, including unique events, travel arrangements and investor-company meetings.
Rather than highlighting a single strength, Golrang points to consistency across the franchise as a key factor behind the improvement.
“The lesson from surveys like this is that success comes from raising the overall standard. It is less about one standout area and more about ensuring that all parts of the offering continue to improve together”, Golrang says.
The results also provide insight into how investor preferences are evolving. Despite rapid advances in artificial intelligence, clients continue to place significant value on in-depth research and direct access to analysts. Personal relationships remain a critical factor when selecting a provider.
“It is interesting to see that clients continue to place high importance on both research and dialogue with analysts. At the same time, the value of personal client relationships remains very strong and increased compared with a year ago”, he says.