©2015 Bloomberg News NR6SID6KLVR9 (Bloomberg Politics) — On Wednesday afternoon, a reporter asked Donald Trump, a candidate for president of the United States, about his brash speaking style, and whether it might induce ire in the delicate dance that is international diplomacy. His first response was not to answer the question,

Equity research is a powerful tool for investors. Investment firms employ analysts to perform in-depth research and analysis on companies, producing reports that explain current trends and projected performance. While smaller firms may only staff a couple of analysts to target specific industries, large firms can have thousands of analysts covering a wide range of companies and industries. These analysts are usually academics, former executives, or people with a long history in their industry. In the following sections, learn about the role equity research plays in guiding investment decisions.