300+ Research Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Income statement, net profit, stock split, merger, takeover, depreciation, amortization, net worth, retaining earnings, book value per share, types of equity shares.

• Income statement shows a company's revenue and expenses over a period of time.

• Net profit is calculated by subtracting total expenses from total revenue.

• Stock split is when a company increases the number of shares outstanding by issuing more shares to current shareholders.

• Merger is when two companies combine to for...read more

Implement a class to check if a string formed by the last queried characters exists in a dictionary of words.

• Initialize the class with the dictionary of words.

• Implement a method to check if the string formed by the last queried characters exists in the dictionary.

• Use appropriate data structures to efficiently solve the problem.

• Ensure the class handles multiple test cases and character queries.

• Example: DICTIONARY[] = ['app', 'apple', 'banana'], Query Stream: ['a', 'p', 'p', 'l...read more

Fixed income securities provide a fixed return while variable income securities provide a return that fluctuates based on market conditions.

• Fixed income securities provide a fixed rate of return, such as bonds or CDs

• Variable income securities provide a return that fluctuates based on market conditions, such as stocks or mutual funds

• Fixed income securities are generally considered less risky than variable income securities

• Investors may choose to diversify their portfolio with ...read more

Assets are resources owned by an individual or organization, while liabilities are debts or obligations owed to others.

• Assets can include cash, property, investments, and inventory.

• Liabilities can include loans, mortgages, and unpaid bills.

• Assets are typically viewed as positive, while liabilities are viewed as negative.

• The difference between assets and liabilities is known as net worth or equity.

Depreciation, tangible and intangible assets, balance sheet, and capital budgeting are called financial terms.

• Depreciation is the decrease in value of an asset over time.

• Tangible assets are physical assets like buildings and machinery, while intangible assets are non-physical assets like patents and trademarks.

• Balance sheet is a financial statement that shows a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.

• Capital budgeting is the process of planning a...read more

Fact entry data solution is a software that helps in collecting and organizing data for research purposes.

• The solution is designed to streamline the data entry process for research studies

• It allows for easy data collection and organization

• The software can be customized to fit the specific needs of a research project

• Fact entry data solution has been used in various research studies across different industries

Factset is a financial data and software company that provides research, analytics, and data solutions to investment professionals.

• Factset offers a wide range of financial data and analytics tools

• It provides real-time market data, news, and research reports

• Factset's software platforms help investment professionals in portfolio management, risk analysis, and quantitative research

• The company serves clients in the financial industry, including asset managers, investment banks, a...read more

Valuing a hotel company involves analyzing its financial statements, market trends, and competitive landscape.

• Analyze the company's financial statements, including revenue, expenses, and profit margins

• Research market trends and demand for hotel services in the company's location

• Assess the competitive landscape and the company's market share

• Consider the company's brand reputation and customer satisfaction ratings

• Evaluate the company's growth potential and future prospects

• Compa...read more

Use a subquery to retrieve the second highest salary from a SQL database.

• Use a subquery to select the maximum salary from the table.

• Then use another subquery to select the maximum salary that is less than the maximum salary found in the first step.

• Combine both subqueries to retrieve the second highest salary.

Accumulated depreciation is the total amount of depreciation expense that has been recorded for an asset over its useful life.

• It is a contra-asset account that reduces the value of an asset on the balance sheet.

• It is calculated by subtracting the asset's salvage value from its original cost and dividing the result by the asset's useful life.

• It represents the total amount of wear and tear or obsolescence that an asset has undergone over time.

• It is important for calculating the...read more

Answering questions related to Mutual funds, depreciation, RBI, GDP and their calculation.

• Mutual fund is a type of investment where money is pooled from multiple investors and invested in various securities.

• Depreciation is the decrease in value of an asset over time due to wear and tear or obsolescence.

• RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is the central bank of India responsible for regulating the country's monetary policy and currency.

• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total value o...read more

The questions asked in the interview were about the differences between list and dictionary, quality and quantity, reasons for joining the company, and expectations from the company.

• List is an ordered collection of elements, while dictionary is an unordered collection of key-value pairs.

• List elements are accessed by their index, while dictionary elements are accessed by their keys.

• Quality refers to the standard or excellence of something, while quantity refers to the amount o...read more

Types of accounts and golden rules of accounts

• Types of accounts include assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses

• Golden rules of accounts are based on the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity

• The golden rules are: Debit what comes in and credit what goes out, Debit the receiver and credit the giver, Debit all expenses and losses and credit all incomes and gains

Private equity invests in established companies while venture capital invests in startups.

• Private equity firms invest in mature companies with a proven track record.

• Venture capital firms invest in startups with high growth potential.

• Private equity firms typically acquire a controlling stake in the company they invest in.

• Venture capital firms usually take a minority stake in the company.

• Private equity firms focus on generating returns through operational improvements and cost-...read more

Yes, I am familiar with the shortcut keys of Excel.

• Ctrl + C: Copy

• Ctrl + V: Paste

• Ctrl + X: Cut

• Ctrl + Z: Undo

• Ctrl + Y: Redo

• Ctrl + B: Bold

• Ctrl + U: Underline

• Ctrl + I: Italic

• Ctrl + F: Find

• Ctrl + H: Replace

Explanation of Blockchain, Full/Half Duplexing, Client/Server side, Cryptocurrency, Mobile Switching, Transistors, Diodes, and upcoming tech trends.

• Blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions in a secure and transparent manner.

• Full duplexing allows for simultaneous two-way communication, while half duplexing only allows for one-way communication at a time.

• Client side refers to the user interface of a software application, while server side refers to...read more

Annual reports contain more than just financials, such as management discussion and analysis, corporate governance, and sustainability reports.

• Management discussion and analysis provides insights into the company's strategy, operations, and future plans.

• Corporate governance section highlights the company's policies and practices related to ethical conduct, board composition, and executive compensation.

• Sustainability reports showcase the company's efforts towards environmental...read more

Assess market attractiveness by analyzing market size, growth rate, competition, customer needs, and trends.

• Analyze market size and growth rate to determine potential revenue

• Evaluate competition to identify market share and differentiation opportunities

• Understand customer needs and preferences to tailor offerings

• Identify trends and potential disruptors to stay ahead of the curve

• Consider regulatory and economic factors that may impact the market

• Use frameworks such as SWOT anal...read more

Explaining name reactions, acid and bases, and pH in detail with examples and mechanisms.

• Name reactions are organic chemical reactions named after their discoverers or developers.

• Examples of name reactions include the Grignard reaction, Friedel-Crafts reaction, and Diels-Alder reaction.

• Acids are substances that donate hydrogen ions, while bases are substances that accept hydrogen ions.

• The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, with a pH of 7 being neutral.

• My...read more

Research Analysts require strong analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills.

• Strong analytical skills to collect and analyze data

• Critical thinking skills to interpret data and draw conclusions

• Excellent communication skills to present findings and recommendations

• Proficiency in statistical analysis software and tools

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Knowledge of research methodologies and techniques

• Flexibility and ada...read more

Valuing a company with no cash profit requires alternative methods such as discounted cash flow or comparable company analysis.

• Use discounted cash flow method to estimate future cash flows and discount them to present value

• Perform comparable company analysis by comparing the company to similar ones in the industry

• Consider the company's assets and liabilities to determine its net worth

• Evaluate the company's potential for future growth and profitability

• Look at the company's rev...read more

I would search for hospitals with gastroenterology departments and high patient satisfaction ratings.

• Search for hospitals with gastroenterology departments on their website or through online directories.

• Check patient satisfaction ratings on websites like Healthgrades or Yelp.

• Consider hospitals with high rankings in gastroenterology specialties on websites like US News & World Report.

• Look for hospitals with positive reviews from patients with similar conditions on online forum...read more

If USD1 equals INR1, it will impact the Indian economy by affecting exports, imports, inflation, and foreign investments.

• Exports will become expensive, making Indian goods less competitive in the global market.

• Imports will become cheaper, leading to increased demand for foreign goods.

• Inflation may rise due to increased demand for foreign goods and higher import costs for raw materials.

• Foreign investments may decrease as the Indian economy becomes less attractive due to the we...read more

I will use various tools such as LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo, and Hunter.io to find prospects.

• Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to search for prospects based on job title, industry, and location.

• Use ZoomInfo to find contact information for prospects and verify their job titles and company information.

• Use Hunter.io to find email addresses for prospects and verify their email addresses.

• Use Google search and social media platforms to find additional information about prospects...read more

Semi-variable costs have both fixed and variable components, while variable costs change proportionally with output.

• Semi-variable costs have a fixed portion that remains constant regardless of output, and a variable portion that changes with output.

• Examples of semi-variable costs include utilities, phone bills, and maintenance costs.

• Variable costs change proportionally with output, such as direct materials and labor costs.

• Understanding the difference between these costs is im...read more

Provision is a charge against profits, while reserves are profits set aside for future use.

• Provision is an estimated expense, while reserves are a part of profits.

• Provision is a charge against profits, while reserves are a part of equity.

• Provision is a liability, while reserves are an asset.

• Examples of provisions include bad debts, warranties, and taxes, while examples of reserves include general reserves, contingency reserves, and capital reserves.

Depreciation reduces net income and increases cash flow.

• Depreciation is a non-cash expense that reduces net income.

• Since it is a non-cash expense, it is added back to net income in the cash flow statement.

• This results in an increase in cash flow from operating activities.

• For example, if a company has a net income of $100,000 and depreciation expense of $20,000, the cash flow from operating activities would be $120,000.

• Depreciation also affects cash flow from investing activit...read more