Baird Initiates Coverage of Retail Hardlines/Broadlines

Baird, an international, employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, has initiated coverage of the Hardlines/Broadlines Retail sector. Senior Research Analyst Peter Benedict has joined Baird to lead the firm’s research coverage in this sector, and will be based in Baird’s Stamford, Conn. Office.

Benedict has initiated coverage on the following Hardlines/Broadlines Retail stocks: BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ, Neutral); Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST, Neutral); Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW, Outperform); PetSmart, Inc.(PETM, Neutral); Target Corporation (TGT, Outperform); The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, Outperform); Tractor Supply Company (TSCO, Outperform); and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT, Outperform).

Prior to joining Baird in 2009, Benedict was a senior research analyst covering Retail Hardlines at Wachovia Securities and at CIBC. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Middlebury College and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

In addition to Benedict, Baird’s Consumer and Retail analysts include: Mitch Kummetz, Active/Outdoor; Erika Maschmeyer, Consumer and Retail Softlines; Craig Kennison, Consumer/Automotive Services; and David Tarantino, Restaurants.

The Consumer research team covers more than 60 companies. Baird’s Research department of more than 110 research professionals covers more than 535 companies.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,400 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $62 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked number 14 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2009 – its sixth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at www.rwbaird.com.