About the Role
Our Equity Research team requires an experienced equity analyst to cover Consumer Discretionary stocks, primarily focusing on a select group of Restaurants and Online Commerce companies. The role offers considerable intellectual freedom to focus on developing long-term oriented, original, and in-depth insights on complex industry issues with an emphasis on understanding ever-changing competitive dynamics. The analyst will publish in-depth research pieces that exemplify our reputation for thought leadership, our ability to assess outcomes for debatable investor topics, and provide the analysis our clients need to make better investing decisions. This position is based in our Chicago office.
Job Responsibilities
• Analyze publicly available information, develop industry-relevant contacts and build internally-generated data to create investment mosaic, often with incomplete information.
• Estimate fair values for about 20 Consumer Discretionary companies, mostly focusing on Restaurants and Online Commerce. Companies may include: Starbucks, McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Yum Brands, eBay, Best Buy, and others.
• Gather and analyze industry data to develop a long-term industry vision and write notes for a sophisticated and demanding client base in a timely, accurate, insightful manner. Analyze implications of fundamental industry developments for coverage.
• Regularly publish reports, detailed discounted cash flow models that focus on the key drivers of the business, and in-depth research pieces, including the qualitative and quantitative analyses of your coverage’s Economic Moats.
• Develop relationships with coverage companies and industry participants by attending company events and industry conferences to enhance research and build brand.
• Become an expert in Morningstar’s Economic Moat research methodology.
• Proactively surface attractive investment ideas internally and externally to support all products and clients.
• Collaborate with colleagues by lending your financial, industry and investment expertise, including reviews of written research, financial models, moat presentations and other items as requested by your Director.
• Act with independence and an ‘investors first’ attitude at all times.
Qualifications
• A bright, motivated individual with the desire to succeed in an intellectually-intense environment. Possess intellectual curiosity, a passion for creative analysis, and attention to detail.
• Ability to think broadly and creatively about a range of strategic issues affecting a business.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative acumen combined with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree; a CFA designation and/or MBA or a Masters is preferred.
• Three to five years of experience in sell side or buy side equity research; Alternatively, three to five years of consumer industry experience combined with a proven interest in equity research.
• Ability to make decisions under tight deadlines, at times with incomplete information.
• Possess independence, critical thinking skills, and a passion for investing, with a bias toward long-term fundamental research.
• Sound financial modeling skills and knowledge of discounted cash flow modeling techniques. Advanced Excel proficiency is expected.
• Work well within a team and be capable of respectfully accepting and providing constructive feedback.
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