It’s that time of year again. Already.

Spring might be arriving late in New York, but Bonus Rumor Season has started early for investment banking analysts. Compensation numbers are already circulating through bullpens up and down The Street, and so far best guesses have the top first-years finally breaking the six-digit barrier.

And that's just the bonus. Tack on base salaries of $60,000 to $80,000 to calculate what the kids are taking home in their first three years out of college these days. The analysts' sources are admittedly dubious, but the buzz is consistent. The most prevalent Wall Street whispers, as passed around on (what else?) an Excel spreadsheet: Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch lead the pack with top-bucket bonuses of $110,000 for first year analysts, $130,000 for second years, and $155,000 for third years. Bear Stearns, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley fill out the middle, ranging by tenure from $100,000 to $145,000. Piper Jaffray and Wachovia bring up the rear with a paltry $90,000 to $130,000 in analyst bonus offerings.

To read more about this story, go to [http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/daily-brief/2007/04/18/boom-times-for-analyst-bonuses]

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