--Meredith LeporeWolfe Research, a New York-based boutique focused on freight transportation, is expanding its macro strategy platform to include investment strategies and quantitative analysis services. The services will be developed by Francois Trahan, the new chief investment strategist and vice chairman. Trahan will also assemble a team of analysts to work with him on these new services scheduled for launch in a month. “Francois brings a really unique and interesting perspective on what is happening in the markets,” said Ed Wolfe, founder and senior analyst, adding Trahan has an understanding of the business cycle and how it affects the market and specific stocks. Wolfe and Trahan worked together at Bear Stearns for four years. Trahan was then the chief investment strategist at International Strategy and Investment Group (ISI) and head of its quantitative research team. He was also ranked the top portfolio strategist by Institutional Investor for the past two years.
The firm has been focusing on adding to its macroeconomic analysis offerings for the past few months (WSL Online, 8/05). In September it rolled out small, interactive models designed for seeing different economic scenario’s impact on earnings per share. Wolfe Research is also looking to recruit new transportation analysts and strategists and is considering branching into other sectors depending on what kind of talent is out there, said Wolfe. He said he gets a lot of inquiries from analysts who are bored at the big banks and frustrated with compensation. The firm now has a staff of 16, including seven analysts and two portfolio analysts with the addition of Trahan.