William Blair
William Blair is an independent, employee-owned investment bank and asset manager headquartered in Chicago. Its equity research focuses on high-quality growth companies, mostly small and mid caps, and covered more than 700 companies as of June 2026.
Activity24M
RatingsPrice targetsKey figures
- Stocks covered
- 19112M
- Actions
- 21112M
- Ratings / Price targets
- 180 / 31
- Upgrades / Downgrades
- 29 / 85
- Initiations
- 33
- Buy-rated
- 43%of 165 rated
- Median upside
- +20.1%
- Targets raised / lowered
- 0 / 1
- On record
- Jun 2012 – Sep 2026
Overview
About 110 analysts and research professionals cover seven growth-oriented sectors—consumer; energy and power technologies; financial services and technology; industrials; global services; healthcare; and technology, media and communications—with over 70% of coverage in small- and mid-cap growth companies as of June 2026. Its Current Better Values list of growth ideas dates to 1976.
William McCormick Blair and Francis Bonner opened Blair, Bonner & Company in Chicago on January 8, 1935; after Bonner left in 1941, the firm became William Blair & Company. It has remained independent and employee-owned, with its broker-dealer controlled by holding partnership WBC Holdings, L.P. It runs investment banking, investment management and private wealth businesses from more than 30 offices, including strategic alliances, and Brent Gledhill has been chief executive since January 2022.
Milestones
- 1935
Blair, Bonner & Company opens in Chicago
- 1941
Renamed William Blair & Company after Francis Bonner departs
- 1976
Launches Current Better Values list of growth ideas
- 2022
Brent Gledhill becomes CEO; John Kreger named research director
Firm facts
- Legal name
- William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
- Type
- Full-service
- Founded
- 1935
- Headquarters
- Chicago, United States
- Parent
- WBC Holdings, L.P.
- President and Chief Executive Officer
- Brent Gledhill
- Director of Research
- John Kreger
- Rating scale
- OutperformMarket PerformUnderperform12 months
- Website
- williamblair.com
Research philosophy
Our basic philosophy is that the best opportunities to invest occur in the emerging part of a company’s growth curve.
In 2023, research director John Kreger said analysts ask whether a company has a great market, business and management team, then apply a valuation framework, since not every great company makes a great stock. He said early-stage growth companies carry more risk and short-term volatility, and that analysts track private companies before they go public. As of 2026, the firm's Current Better Values list selects 10 to 15 top picks and holds them for two years.
Rating methodology
Stocks are rated Outperform, Market Perform or Underperform relative to the broader market, generally the S&P 500, over 12 months.
Coverage12M
Sectors
Most covered24M
| Stock | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|
 Parsons CorporationPSN | Buy | — |
 Palantir Technologies Inc.PLTR | Outperform | $84 |
 Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.CRL | Outperform | — |
 Korro Bio, Inc.KRRO | Outperform | $10 |
 Space Exploration Technologies Corp.SPCX | Outperform | — |
 American Public Education, Inc.APEI | Outperform | $58 |
 argenx SEARGX | Outperform | — |
 Booz Allen Hamilton Holding CorporationBAH | Outperform | — |
 Biodesix, Inc.BDSX | Outperform | — |
 Birkenstock Holding plcBIRK | Market Perform | $44 |
Most active analysts
- Myles Minter1 notesKRRO
- Sharon Zackfia1 notesBIRK
Recent actions
| Date | Stock | Rating action | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22 |  Brinker International, Inc.EAT | Downgrade | Underperform |
| Sep 22 |  Coinbase Global, Inc.COIN | Reiterate | Outperform |
| Sep 22 | DAEndava plcDAVA | Downgrade | Market Perform →Underperform |
| Sep 22 | YSYesway, Inc.YSWY | Initiate | Outperform |
| Sep 21 | ULUL Solutions Inc.ULS | Reiterate | Outperform |
| Sep 18 | CAPerspective Therapeutics, Inc.CATX | Initiate | Outperform |
| Sep 16 |  Casey's General Stores, Inc.CASY | Reiterate | Outperform |
| Sep 15 |  Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.ZNTL | Initiate | Outperform |
| Sep 15 | SESEI Investments CompanySEIC | Upgrade | Market Perform →Outperform |
| Sep 14 | TMThe Metals Royalty Company Inc.TMCR | Initiate | Outperform |
| Sep 14 | LYLyntris Inc.LYNX | Initiate | Outperform |
| Sep 14 | BWThe Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc.BWIN | Downgrade | Outperform →Market Perform |