Robert W. Baird
Robert W. Baird & Co. is the main US operating firm of Baird, an employee-owned investment bank and wealth manager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose equity research concentrates on industrial, technology, healthcare and consumer companies.
Activity24M
RatingsPrice targetsKey figures
- Stocks covered
- 67612M
- Actions
- 2,28012M
- Ratings / Price targets
- 885 / 1,395
- Upgrades / Downgrades
- 53 / 74
- Buy-rated
- 59%of 489 rated
- Median upside
- +16.1%
- Targets raised / lowered
- 734 / 482
- On record
- Feb 2012 – Sep 2026
Overview
Because it's our firm, we are free to think, plan and invest for the long term, without unnecessary distractions or short-term pressures from outside shareholders.
As of 2025, Baird had 90 equity research analysts covering more than 710 stocks. They formed part of an institutional equities group with more than 270 employees in the US and UK, which hosts conferences for the industrial, technology and services, healthcare, and consumer sectors. Baird subsidiary Strategas provides strategy, economics and policy research; it was Extel's top-ranked macro-only firm for a ninth consecutive year in 2025. Baird says its financial strength allows it to maintain coverage for clients over time. It also says it declines business that would increase short-term profits without benefiting clients.
Baird traces its founding to 1919, when Robert W. Baird led the bond house of Milwaukee's newly merged First Wisconsin banking group. Separated from the bank in 1934 as The Securities Company of Milwaukee, it joined the NYSE in 1948 and took the name Robert W. Baird & Co. Northwestern Mutual bought a majority interest in 1982, and associates bought back control in 2004. Strategas joined as a Baird company in 2018; Baird is employee-owned with more than 200 locations.
Milestones
- 1919
Founded in Milwaukee as the First Wisconsin Company bond house
- 1934
Split from bank as The Securities Company of Milwaukee
- 1948
Joined NYSE and took the Robert W. Baird name
- 1982
Northwestern Mutual acquired majority ownership
- 2004
Associates bought back control from Northwestern Mutual
- 2018
Macro research firm Strategas joined as a Baird company
Firm facts
- Legal name
- Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
- Type
- Full-service
- Founded
- 1919
- Headquarters
- Milwaukee, United States
- Parent
- Baird Financial Group
- Chairman & CEO
- Steve Booth
- Director of Equity Research
- David Tarantino
- Rating scale
- OutperformNeutralUnderperform12 months
- Also filed as
- Baird
- Website
- rwbaird.com
Research philosophy
Baird's analysts combine company analysis with field research conducted over several years, including surveys, market visits and trips to company operations.
Rating methodology
Ratings are Outperform, Neutral and Underperform relative to the broader US equity market over 12 months.
Coverage12M
Sectors
Most covered24M
| Stock | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|
 CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.CRWD | Neutral | $235 |
 Lululemon Athletica Inc.LULU | Neutral | $115 |
 Autodesk, Inc.ADSK | Outperform | $325 |
 Hyatt Hotels CorporationH | Neutral | $191 |
 Donaldson Company, Inc.DCI | Outperform | $105 |
 Acuity Brands, Inc.AYI | Neutral | $390 |
 Boston Scientific CorporationBSX | Outperform | $56 |
 Carlisle Companies IncorporatedCSL | Outperform | $412 |
 ICON Public Limited CompanyICLR | Outperform | $194 |
 Keysight Technologies, Inc.KEYS | Outperform | $410 |
Most active analysts
- Luke Junk35 notesMBLYSNABWA
- David Koning35 notesCRCLJKHYPAY
- Tristan Gerra33 notesTXNKNAMD
- Colin Sebastian32 notesCARTCRSREBAY
- Andrew Wittmann32 notesECLABMPSN
- Eric Coldwell31 notesACHAHCOCRL
Recent actions
| Date | Stock | Rating action | Rating | Target | Analyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22 |  Okta, Inc.OKTA | Target | $185 →$200 | ||
| Sep 22 | HNHinge Health, Inc.HNGE | Target | $65 →$90 | ||
| Sep 22 |  Nextpower Inc.NXT | Target | $156 →$116 | ||
| Sep 22 | GRGRAIL, Inc.GRAL | Target | $70 →$118 | Robert Bamberger | |
| Sep 18 | XEXenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.XENE | Reiterate | Outperform | $97 →$90 | |
| Sep 18 | RFRegions Financial CorporationRF | Upgrade | Underperform →Neutral | ||
| Sep 17 | OSOscar Health, Inc.OSCR | Reiterate | Neutral | $27 →$33 | Michael Ha |
| Sep 17 | AHAdaptHealth Corp.AHCO | Reiterate | Outperform | $10 →$9 | |
| Sep 17 |  Fluence Energy, Inc.FLNC | Downgrade | Neutral →Underperform |