Compass Point
Compass Point Research & Trading is a privately held, Washington, D.C.-based middle-market investment bank and broker-dealer whose equity research concentrates on financial services, real estate and digital assets.
Activity24M
RatingsPrice targetsKey figures
- Stocks covered
- 8512M
- Actions
- 15912M
- Ratings / Price targets
- 57 / 102
- Upgrades / Downgrades
- 24 / 11
- Initiations
- 10
- Buy-rated
- 62%of 42 rated
- Median upside
- +19.3%
- Targets raised / lowered
- 24 / 25
- On record
- Feb 2012 – Sep 2026
Overview
The equity research team covers more than 120 companies as of 2026 across banks, commercial and consumer finance, insurance, mortgage finance and mortgage REITs, equity REITs, blockchain and digital assets, and special situations; the firm also publishes Washington policy research. As of 2026 it has no proprietary trading desk, saying that serving only clients keeps its execution unbiased.
Scott Dreyer founded Compass Point in Washington, D.C. in 2007 and remains its executive chairman. The firm grew into a middle-market investment bank offering investment banking and advisory services alongside research, policy analysis and institutional sales and trading, with an office in New York. Burke Hayes, previously a managing director, became chief executive in January 2023, and the firm added real estate research coverage in 2026.
Milestones
- 2007
Scott Dreyer founds Compass Point in Washington, D.C.
- 2023
Burke Hayes becomes chief executive
Firm facts
- Legal name
- Compass Point Research & Trading, LLC
- Type
- Boutique
- Founded
- 2007
- Headquarters
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Chief Executive Officer
- Burke Hayes
- Rating scale
- BuyNeutralSell12 months
- Website
- compasspointllc.com
Research philosophy
Government policy plays an increasing role in investor’s investment analysis.
Compass Point says its analysts draw on industry expertise and contacts to investigate companies, markets and policy developments. In 2014, it described equity research as the foundation of its business and said its Washington, D.C. location helped it explain how legislation and regulation could affect financial services companies.
Rating methodology
Buy, Neutral and Sell ratings express expected performance relative to peers on a risk-adjusted basis over the next 12 months.
Coverage12M
Sectors
Most covered24M
| Stock | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|
| CMCMPGY | Buy | $51 |
 Coinbase Global, Inc.COIN | Buy | $177 |
 Circle Internet GroupCRCL | Buy | $62 |
 Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc.GPMT | Buy | $1.25 |
 Pebblebrook Hotel TrustPEB | Neutral | $19.50 |
 American Express CompanyAXP | Neutral | $324 |
 BXP, Inc.BXP | Neutral | $88 |
 Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.HST | Buy | $18 |
 Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc.IIPR | Neutral | — |
 Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.MARA | Neutral | $30 |
Most active analysts
- Michael Donovan9 notesCMPGYIRENCORZ
- Dominick Gabriele8 notesPYPLKLARFISV
- Ed Engel7 notesCMPGYBLSHBULL
- Giuliano Bologna7 notesCMPGYESNTAFRM
- Floris van Dijkum5 notesBXPAKRHST
- Casey Alexander4 notesGOLFHCIHRZN
Recent actions
| Date | Stock | Rating action | Rating | Target | Analyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18 | BTGrayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETFBTC | Upgrade | Neutral | ||
| Sep 16 | JAJanus Living, Inc.JAN | Initiate | Neutral | $37 | |
| Sep 15 | Circle Internet GroupCRCL | Upgrade | Neutral →Buy | ||
| Sep 15 | CMCMPGY | Initiate | Buy | ||
| Sep 14 | PUHyperliquid Strategies Inc Common StockPURR | Initiate | Buy | $18 | |
| Sep 14 | Coinbase Global, Inc.COIN | Upgrade | Neutral →Buy | $230 →$177 | Ed Engel |
| Sep 14 | CACAVA Group, Inc.CAVA | Upgrade | Neutral | ||
| Sep 14 | BLBullishBLSH | Target | $51 | Ed Engel | |
| Sep 14 | CMCMPGY | Target | $36 →$51 | Ed Engel |