Financial Analysts

A common role of financial analysts involves analyzing investments and their market performances. They rely on fundamental analysis to determine a company’s value or its investment opportunity. The detailed process might include analyzing a company’s profitability, revenue, earnings, sales, and outstanding debt.

Financial analysts collect and analyze data but always within the context of a prior deductive understanding of how markets should function. Financial analysts must also understand economic principles and be able to create written reports of their interpretations and make recommendations. In short, financial analysts are usually behind-the-scenes experts.

Source: Investopedia

Research Analysts

Research analysts tend to be more data crunchers than financial analysts. Research analysts can also be used in determining an investment’s valuation or the value of an asset. These analysts can work on market research to spot trends but can also work as equity analysts to prepare reports for buy or sell recommendations.

Research analysts tend to focus more on mathematical models to produce objective answers about historical data. A research analyst can take a series of inputs, and calculate the most efficient way to maximize output. Research analysts are used to help improve a company’s operations through advanced mathematical and analytical methods. These analysts help businesses investigate and solve complex problems, and allow the companies to make better business decisions.

Source: Investopedia