contacting an analyst for information

Hi

Any of you guys ask analysts for information on stocks they cover ?

Thinking specifically about an emerging market REIT with little volume (in a small country) , but would also be interested in a similar process in more developed markets. About 5 analysts are listed on the product's website as covering it, all based in the same country.

Would you just email them out of the blue and ask about their view on the product ?
Are they supposed to reply with information on the company, or with prices on research they are selling ?

I might be interested either way, but also how reliable are those analysts views, I can't imagine they would come up with a very negative view on the company, even though they might hold such a view.

 

The best analysts won't talk to you unless you are contributing to their salary through payments to their employer.

Those that publish their "research" on a free-for-all basis and will talk to any Tom, Dick or Harry are generally the anal-ists.

Like most things in the finance industry, it depends on who's paying their wages.

If they're working for a sell-side firm (e.g. a large bank or brokerage) then yes, more often than not, there may well be a bullish tinge to their publications.

However if they are working for a buy-side firm, especially one of the independent research houses, then they'll generally tell you exactly what they think.

There are various ways to get a feel for the reliability of an analyst .... the best, of course, is to read some of their work over a period of time. But there are other things out there, like the Bloomberg BARR feature if you want to get a quick point of view.

 

Analysts might not have time to talk to anyone. However, no harm in trying.

Better results would be from visiting stock specific forum at http://www.thelion.com/

You might get more inputs from various investors already in the stock as players.

 

Analysts…might as well follow the road to ruin and swallow what CNN is spewing.

 

1. If you think the analyst is any good open an account with the firm a reward his research
2. If they don't have a series 7 they can't talk to the public without a 7 on the call

 

If you're not a client of the firm - they won't speak to you.