Buy-side analysts evaluate investment opportunities for institutional mutual funds or hedge funds, while sales analysts produce market research for external clients. Investment advisers rely on research from analysts to make informed decisions, and there are different types of analysts, including those who focus on equity or debt markets. Fixed-income buy-side analysts evaluate investment or high-yield notes and assign ratings based on the likelihood of income payments.
Research is a vital component for investors, large and small, to make educated investment decisions. A buying analyst is hired to evaluate investment opportunities at an investment firm, such as an institutional mutual fund or a large hedge fund. This professional assists in buying and selling decisions in the financial markets. Based in part on research by a purchasing analyst, an investment adviser decides where to put large sums of his clients’ money.
The alternative to a procurement analyst is a sales analyst, a financial professional responsible for producing market research for external clients or investors about companies, sectors and regional economies. Research generated by a buy-side analyst, however, typically remains within a company and is not intended for external customers. Both types of analysts are vital to the financial community, and one side can incorporate or build on research from the other side to add value and create a broader perspective.
Although investment advisers are certified to make important decisions on behalf of a company and other investors, they generally do not make judgments based solely on their own work. Instead, these money managers hire a team of research analysts to uncover trends and point to buy or sell opportunities in the broader markets. Although an investment adviser makes the final decision on an investment, it is often a group effort that requires the input of a buy-side analyst to make these informed decisions.
There are different types of financial analysts. For example, a buy-side analyst might focus on the equity or debt markets. Smaller investment firms may employ analysts only on the equity side of financial markets.
A buy-side stock analyst is responsible for making assessments about the stock market. This professional will make recommendations to an investment adviser on individual stocks or sectors and evaluate regional opportunities. It assesses a company’s profitability relative to its debt and makes judgments about financial initiatives. Typically, this analyst will be assigned to a specific industry, such as telecommunications or hosting, and compare the performance of stocks within that group.
The other side of financial markets is debt, which is categorized as the fixed income market. This is because debt investors receive fixed earnings over the life of an investment. A fixed-income buy-side analyst evaluates investment or high-yield notes and typically assigns a rating to these financial instruments. Ratings reflect the likelihood that a bond issuer will make its income payments. An investment grade bond is rated higher and is a less risky investment than high yield bonds.
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