What is a Research Analyst at Baird?

As a Research Analyst at Baird, you are stepping into a critical role within our highly respected Equity Research platform. Baird is known for its deep, high-quality, and independent research, primarily focusing on mid-cap and large-cap companies. In this role, you serve as the analytical engine behind our investment recommendations, directly impacting how institutional investors allocate their capital.

Your work will involve dissecting complex financial statements, monitoring industry trends, and uncovering actionable insights that drive our published research reports. You will work closely with Senior Analysts, contributing to a collaborative environment where intellectual curiosity and rigorous financial modeling are paramount. The insights you generate will not only support our institutional clients but also inform internal sales and trading teams.

This position offers exceptional visibility and responsibility. You will frequently interact with the management teams of covered companies, listen to earnings calls, and help craft the narrative around a stock's potential. Expect a fast-paced, intellectually demanding environment where your analytical precision and ability to clearly articulate an investment thesis are tested daily.

Common Interview Questions

The questions below represent the typical patterns you will encounter during your interviews. While you should not memorize answers, use these to practice your delivery and refine your core narratives.

Behavioral & Fit Questions

These questions assess your motivations, your understanding of the role, and your alignment with Baird’s culture and geographic footprint.

• Walk me through your resume.
• Why do you want to work in Equity Research?
• Why Baird, and specifically, why our Milwaukee/Chicago office?
• Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it.
• Where do you see your career in five years?

Technical Finance & Accounting

These questions test your fundamental knowledge of how companies operate financially and how they are valued.

• Walk me through the three financial statements.
• How does a $10 increase in inventory affect the statements?
• What are the different ways to value a company, and when would you use each?
• Walk me through a DCF model from revenue down to free cash flow.
• If a company has a negative net income, can it still have a positive enterprise value?

Brain Teasers & Market Sizing

These assess your structured thinking and ability to remain composed when asked abstract or seemingly impossible questions.

• How many donuts were sold in NYC yesterday?
• How many golf balls can fit into a school bus?
• You have a 3-gallon jug and a 5-gallon jug. How do you measure exactly 4 gallons of water?
• What is the angle between the hour and minute hands on a clock at 3:15?
• Estimate the annual revenue of a local coffee shop.

Stock Pitch & Market Knowledge

These questions evaluate your practical interest in investing and your ability to synthesize information into a recommendation.

• Pitch me a stock. (Be prepared with one long and one short idea).
• What sector are you most interested in and why?
• What is the S&P 500 trading at today, and what is your outlook on the broader market?
• How would you evaluate the management team of a company you are researching?
• What is a recent piece of financial news that caught your eye, and how does it impact the markets?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation is the key to navigating Baird’s rigorous interview process. We evaluate candidates across a balanced spectrum of technical acumen, cognitive agility, and cultural alignment.

Focus your preparation on the following key evaluation criteria:

Financial and Analytical Rigor As an Equity Research Analyst, your foundational knowledge of finance and accounting must be rock solid. Interviewers will test your ability to navigate the three financial statements, understand valuation methodologies (such as DCF and comparable company analysis), and grasp core financial metrics.

Structured Problem-Solving Equity markets are inherently ambiguous. We assess your ability to think on your feet through market sizing questions and brain teasers. It is less about arriving at the exact correct number and more about demonstrating a logical, step-by-step framework for tackling the unknown.

Communication and Thesis Generation Great research is useless if it cannot be communicated effectively. You will be evaluated on your ability to pitch a stock clearly, write persuasively, and defend your viewpoints under pressure. Strong candidates can distill complex data into a cohesive, actionable narrative.

Cultural Alignment and Motivation Baird prides itself on a unique, collaborative culture often described as "The Baird Way." Interviewers will heavily weigh your genuine interest in the firm, your ability to work seamlessly in a team, and your specific motivations for living and working in our core geographic locations, particularly the Midwest.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Research Analyst at Baird is thorough and designed to ensure a mutual fit. Candidates typically begin with a brief asynchronous video interview via HireVue or a preliminary phone screen with HR or a Junior Analyst. This initial step focuses heavily on your background, resume walk-through, and fundamental behavioral questions to gauge your baseline interest in the firm.

If you progress, you will likely be asked to complete a standardized analytical, math, and writing assessment. This competency test evaluates your fundamental quantitative skills and your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly in writing. Following the assessment, candidates are invited to a comprehensive Superday.

The Superday is the cornerstone of our evaluation process. It typically involves five to eight back-to-back interviews with Senior Analysts and sector heads. A distinctive feature of the Baird Superday is the pre-interview dinner or happy hour held the night before. This event is a critical, albeit informal, part of the evaluation where the team assesses your interpersonal skills and cultural fit in a relaxed setting.

This visual timeline outlines the typical progression from initial application to final offer. Use this to pace your preparation, ensuring your behavioral narratives are polished for the early screens, while reserving intensive technical and case-study practice for the assessments and Superday rounds.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Your interviews will cover a wide range of topics, shifting between high-level behavioral questions and granular technical inquiries.

Technical Finance and Accounting

A deep understanding of financial mechanics is non-negotiable for this role. Interviewers will test your ability to connect the dots across financial statements and apply valuation concepts to real-world scenarios. Strong performance means answering without hesitation and showing an intuitive grasp of how operational changes impact the bottom line.

Be ready to go over:

• The Three Financial Statements – How they link together and how specific transactions flow through them.
• Valuation Methodologies – The mechanics of a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model, trading multiples, and precedent transactions.
• Accounting Principles – Working capital dynamics, depreciation vs. amortization, and understanding free cash flow.
• Advanced Concepts – Capital structure optimization, WACC calculations, and understanding specific sector-based metrics (e.g., SaaS multiples or retail same-store sales).

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how a $10 increase in depreciation affects the three financial statements."
• "If you could only look at two financial statements to evaluate a company's health, which would you choose and why?"
• "Explain the components of WACC and how you would calculate the cost of equity."

Brain Teasers and Market Sizing

Baird uniquely emphasizes cognitive agility through brain teasers and market sizing questions. These are designed to evaluate your logic, your comfort with numbers, and your ability to remain calm under pressure. A strong answer clearly articulates your assumptions and walks the interviewer through your mathematical logic step-by-step.

Be ready to go over:

• Market Sizing – Estimating the size of a specific market or the volume of a product sold within a given timeframe.
• Logic Puzzles – Classic riddles that test deductive reasoning.
• Mental Math – Quick calculations involving percentages, fractions, and large numbers without the use of a calculator.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How many donuts were sold in New York City yesterday?"
• "Estimate the number of windows in the city of Chicago."
• "If a lily pad doubles in size every day and covers a pond in 48 days, on what day does it cover half the pond?"

The Stock Pitch

Pitching a stock is a fundamental requirement for any Equity Research role. Interviewers want to see that you understand how to formulate an investment thesis, identify catalysts, and recognize risks. A successful pitch is concise, well-researched, and backed by solid financial rationale.

Be ready to go over:

• Company Overview – A brief summary of what the company does and how it makes money.
• Investment Thesis – The 2-3 core reasons why the market is mispricing the stock (Long or Short).
• Catalysts – Upcoming events or trends that will drive the stock price toward your target.
• Valuation and Risks – How you arrived at your price target and what could go wrong with your thesis.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Pitch me a stock you are currently following. Are you long or short?"
• "What is the biggest risk to your investment thesis, and how is the company mitigating it?"
• "Why do you believe the market is currently mispricing this asset?"

Behavioral and Culture Fit

Baird places a massive premium on culture. The firm looks for candidates who are humble, hardworking, and genuinely interested in building a career at Baird. You must be able to articulate why you want to do Equity Research and, crucially, why you want to do it at Baird.

Be ready to go over:

• Your Story – A smooth, engaging walk-through of your resume that highlights your interest in the markets.
• Why Baird? – Demonstrating knowledge of our specific market positioning and culture.
• Location Preference – Articulating a strong, believable reason for wanting to work in our core offices (e.g., Milwaukee, Chicago).

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Why are you interested in Equity Research rather than Investment Banking?"
• "Why do you want to work in Milwaukee/the Midwest?"
• "Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member."

Key Responsibilities

As a Research Analyst, your day-to-day work is highly analytical and deeply embedded in the financial markets. Your primary responsibility is to support a Senior Analyst in covering a specific sector or group of stocks. This involves building and maintaining intricate financial models in Excel, updating them meticulously during earnings seasons, and ensuring all historical data and future projections are accurate.

Beyond the numbers, you will spend a significant amount of time writing. You will draft sections of initial initiation reports, write earnings recaps, and compile industry-specific thematic research. This requires the ability to translate complex financial data into a compelling narrative that clients can easily digest and act upon.

You will also be responsible for monitoring daily news flow, tracking industry data points, and preparing your team for management meetings and client calls. Over time, you will interact directly with internal sales and trading desks, answering their questions and helping them understand your team's investment stance on various equities.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for the Research Analyst role at Baird, candidates must demonstrate a blend of hard financial skills and strong interpersonal capabilities.

• Must-have skills – Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, deep understanding of the three financial statements, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a demonstrated passion for the public markets.
• Must-have experience – A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. Previous internship experience in equity research, investment banking, asset management, or corporate finance is highly expected.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience with financial databases (e.g., Bloomberg, FactSet, Capital IQ), specific domain knowledge in a covered sector (e.g., healthcare, industrials, technology), and financial modeling certifications.
• Soft skills – Exceptional attention to detail, ability to work long hours during earnings season, intellectual curiosity, and an outgoing, collaborative demeanor that fits well within a team-oriented culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the analytical and writing assessment? The assessment is designed to test fundamental math, logic, and writing under time pressure. While not impossibly difficult, it requires precision and a clear, concise writing style. Brushing up on basic financial math and practicing structured essay writing will serve you well.

Q: How should I approach the Superday pre-interview dinner? Treat the dinner as an interview, but focus heavily on building rapport. The team is evaluating your social skills and whether you are someone they want to sit next to for 60+ hours a week. Be outgoing, ask thoughtful questions about their careers and lives, and avoid dominating the conversation.

Q: How important is the "Why Midwest/Milwaukee" question? It is critically important. Baird wants to hire candidates who will stay and grow with the firm. If you are interviewing for a Midwest office but have no ties to the area, you must have a highly compelling and genuine reason for wanting to build your life and career there.

Q: Will I be asked to build a financial model during the interview? While you may not have to build a full DCF from scratch during a 30-minute interview, you will be expected to verbally walk through the mechanics of one flawlessly. The competency tests may also include simplified quantitative modeling or accounting exercises.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the first round to an offer? The process can vary depending on the applicant pool. Some candidates wait a few weeks between the phone screen and the Superday, while offers are typically extended very quickly (often within a week) after the Superday concludes.

Other General Tips

• Master the "Why Baird" Narrative: Baird is incredibly proud of its employee-owned structure and strong cultural values. Do your networking beforehand, mention specific conversations you’ve had with current employees, and explicitly tie your career goals to their unique platform.
• Do Not Negotiate Salary: For entry-level Equity Research Analyst positions, compensation is generally standardized across the incoming class. Attempting to negotiate can be perceived negatively and signal a lack of understanding of industry norms.
• Think Out Loud During Brain Teasers: When asked how many donuts were sold in NYC, the interviewer does not care about the actual number. They want to hear you say: "Assume the population is 8 million. Assume 50% eat breakfast. Assume 10% of those buy a donut..." Write down your assumptions and speak clearly.
• Perfect Your Stock Pitch: Your stock pitch must be airtight. Do not pitch a mega-cap stock like Apple or Tesla where the interviewer likely knows more than you do. Pick a mid-cap company, know the valuation multiples cold, and be ready to defend your thesis against aggressive pushback.

Summary & Next Steps

Securing a Research Analyst position at Baird is a testament to your analytical rigor, financial acumen, and strong interpersonal skills. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into the financial markets, learn from seasoned industry experts, and produce research that actively shapes institutional investment decisions.

To succeed, you must approach your preparation strategically. Ensure your accounting fundamentals and valuation knowledge are second nature. Practice your market sizing frameworks so you can tackle brain teasers with confidence. Most importantly, refine your personal narrative so that your passion for the markets, your interest in Baird, and your desire to work in the specific location shine through in every conversation.

This compensation data provides a baseline expectation for the role. Keep in mind that total compensation in Equity Research includes a base salary and a performance-based bonus, which scales as you gain seniority and take on more direct coverage responsibilities.

You have the tools and the roadmap to excel in this process. Continue to practice your stock pitches, stay updated on market trends, and leverage resources like Dataford to refine your technical answers. Approach your Superday with confidence, intellectual curiosity, and a collaborative mindset. Good luck!