Investment analysts
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Related to Investment analysts: financial analyst
Investment analysts
Related: Financial analysts
Investment Analysts
Persons who conduct research into data relating to the stability and profitability of businesses, especially to guide one's investing practices. At their most basic, investment analysts look at financial statements to determine if a company is healthy. Balance sheets are important to investment analysis as they provide a ready-made means of investigating performance. However, it is important to note that quantitative financial analysis has limits: the accounting methods a particular business employs, for example, may make it look more or less healthy than it really is. Investment analysts attempt to see through this and assess a business' actual health. See also: Fundamental analysis, Financial analysis, Investment adviser.