Argus Research
Argus Research is an independent, family-owned investment research firm founded in 1934 that delivers fundamental and quantitative equity research, ratings, model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and ownership analytics to institutional investors, wealth managers, and corporate clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Argus Research does
Argus Research is an independent, family-owned investment research firm founded in 1934 by Harold Dorsey and headquartered in New York, with a London office. The firm produces fundamental equity research and BUY/HOLD/SELL ratings on more than 400 stocks across 60+ industries, supplemented by the proprietary A6 quantitative model covering 1,500+ securities and ranking 2,200+ global companies. Its core methodology, the Six-Point System, integrates industry, growth, financial strength, management, risk, and valuation analysis with a Peer Derived Value approach. Through wholly owned subsidiaries Argus Investors' Counsel (SEC-registered investment advisor, est. 1960), Vickers Stock Research (acquired 1976), and Argus Vickers Ltd. (London, est. 1993), the firm also delivers separately managed accounts, ETF and equity model portfolios, and proprietary insider/institutional ownership analytics.
The firm serves institutional investors (global and money center banks, discount brokers, mutual funds, hedge funds, state pension funds, bank trust departments, RIAs), corporate pension plans, endowments, foundations, and HNW individuals. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring research subscriptions distributed via direct sales and white-label arrangements with broker-dealers/RIAs; sponsored research coverage paid by U.S.-listed issuers; managed-services fees from AIC's SMA and model-portfolio business; and bespoke professional services including IPO, small-cap, gap-coverage, and risk research. Distribution is sales-led, supported by daily Market Watch notes, webinars, ArgusVision investor conferences, and analyst media presence on CNBC, Bloomberg, and major business publications. The firm employs 101-250 people and continues to operate without investment banking, brokerage, or M&A advisory arms, preserving conflict-free independence that originated from its selection as a Global Research Analyst Settlement partner.
Argus Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Argus Research
- Legal name
- Argus Research Co.
- Website
- https://argusresearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Argus Research is an independent, family-owned investment research firm founded in 1934 that delivers fundamental and quantitative equity research, ratings, model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and ownership analytics to institutional investors, wealth managers, and corporate clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Argus Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Research
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity Research (FSACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail) (FSAAAAAO), Sector-Specific Industry Research (FSACAGAL), Equity Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Issuance Strategy & Readiness) (FSACAAAI)
Keywords
Where Argus Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Argus Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Research Subscriptions: Subscription-based research reports distributed to institutional clients, financial advisors, and retail investors through website subscriptions and white-label services.
- Sponsored Research: Companies listed on major US exchanges pay for coverage reports published by Argus and distributed through Argus network. Includes launch reports with investment thesis, earnings analysis, and valuation.
- Investment Advisory Services: Argus Investors' Counsel (AIC), an SEC-registered investment advisor, manages equity portfolios for clients including individuals, RIAs, corporate pensions, foundations, and endowments, generating management fees.
- Bespoke and Custom Research: Custom research services including gap coverage, IPO reports, risk reports, small-cap coverage, and alpha capture ideas for institutional clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Argus Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Argus Research is an independent investment research firm that produces fundamental equity research with BUY, HOLD, and SELL ratings on over 400 stocks across 60+ industries using its proprietary Six-Point Valuation System. It also provides quantitative research on more than 1,500 securities via its A6 model, plus investment advisory services through SEC-registered Argus Investors' Counsel (AIC) managing equity portfolios, ETF and equity model portfolios, and separately managed accounts.
Product overview
Argus Research is an independent investment research firm offering a comprehensive suite of fundamental and quantitative research products and investment advisory services. The core offering centers on equity research and ratings for over 400 stocks using the proprietary Six-Point Valuation System, complemented by A6 quantitative research covering more than 1,500 securities. Investment management services include ETF Model Portfolios (Conservative, Growth, Aggressive), Equity Model Portfolios (Equity Income, Growth & Income, Growth, Institutional), and Separately Managed Accounts (Core Equity, U.S. Dividend Growers, Innovators, ESG, Custom). The firm also provides Sponsored Research for public companies, Ownership Analytics through its Vickers Stock Research subsidiary, and corporate/analyst access services. Research publications include daily Market Watch, technical Market Movers, flagship Portfolio Selector with Focus List, and the Argus Dividend Growth Model Portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Equity Research & Ratings Fundamental investment research covering over 400 stocks across more than 60 industries, providing BUY, HOLD, and SELL ratings based on the proprietary Argus Six-Point Valuation System.
- A6 Quantitative Research
- ETF Model Portfolios
- Equity Model Portfolios
- Separately Managed Accounts (SMA)
- Sponsored Research
- Ownership Analytics
- Corporate Access
- Analyst Access & Events
- Vickers Stock Research
Quantifiable outcome
- BUY ratings from independent research firms statistically and significantly outperform Investment Bank BUY ratings
Companies that use Argus Research
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Argus Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Argus Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Argus Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CFRA Research: Independent equity research firm spun out of S&P Capital IQ's equity research business; offers fundamental equity research, quantitative models, and fund/advisory research with a similar institutional and wealth-distribution model to Argus, including long-only Buy/Hold/Sell ratings and a published stock-selection methodology.
- Value Line: Long-standing independent investment research and publishing firm founded in 1931 that provides proprietary quantitative rankings and fundamental commentary on thousands of US equities—closely analogous to Argus's ranked security universe and consumer/institutional research distribution.
- Zacks Investment Research: Independent equity research firm whose core offering is a proprietary quantitative ranking system applied across thousands of stocks; commercializes research via subscriptions, model portfolios, and licensed distribution—closely matching Argus's A6 and subscription revenue model.
- Hedgeye Risk Management: Independent investment research firm providing fundamental and quantitative equity, macro, and sector research to institutional and retail subscribers; shares Argus's model of independent, conflict-free research distributed by subscription and through real-time alerts.
- Wolfe Research: Independent sell-side equity research and corporate advisory firm offering institutional fundamental research and corporate access events; comparable to Argus in offering conflict-free equity coverage to institutional investors with a strong analyst-led franchise.
- Verity (VerityData): Independent research and data provider tracking insider and institutional ownership, holdings, and transaction activity—directly comparable to Argus's Vickers Stock Research subsidiary and overlapping with Argus Vickers' UK ownership database offering.
Broad incumbents
- Morningstar: Large-scale investment research and data platform offering independent equity research, fund research, portfolio analytics, and managed portfolios; competes with Argus across institutional research and wealth advisory, but at materially larger scale and with a much broader data-centric product portfolio.
- S&P Global: Diversified financial information and research provider whose equity research, ratings, indices, and ownership data historically competed with Argus; many of Argus's own senior hires (including Director of Product Strategy and a Senior Director of Business Development) came from S&P, underscoring direct market overlap.
Emerging players
- Yardeni Research: Boutique independent investment research firm producing macro and equity strategy commentary for institutional clients; smaller and more narrowly focused than Argus but addresses the same independent-research constituency and is frequently cross-quoted in financial media.
Others
- Wall Street Horizon: Provider of corporate event data, earnings date intelligence, and corporate access tools; an ecosystem participant and adjacent data vendor that frequently appears alongside Argus's Corporate Access service in supporting institutional investor workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Argus Research social profiles
Digital presenceArgus Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Argus Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Argus Research subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Argus Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Argus Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Argus Research
What does Argus Research do?
Argus Research is an independent investment research firm that produces fundamental equity research with BUY, HOLD, and SELL ratings on over 400 stocks across 60+ industries using its proprietary Six-Point Valuation System. It also provides quantitative research on more than 1,500 securities via its A6 model, plus investment advisory services through SEC-registered Argus Investors' Counsel (AIC) managing equity portfolios, ETF and equity model portfolios, and separately managed accounts.
Is Argus Research a public or private company?
Argus Research is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Argus Research founded?
Argus Research was founded in 1934. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Argus Research based?
Argus Research is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Argus Research make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Research Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are sponsored Research, investment Advisory Services and bespoke and Custom Research.
Who are Argus Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CFRA Research, Value Line, Zacks Investment Research, Hedgeye Risk Management, Wolfe Research and Verity (VerityData). Broad incumbents are Morningstar and S&P Global. Yardeni Research is listed as an emerging player. Wall Street Horizon is listed as an others.
Does Argus Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Argus Research.
What industry is Argus Research in?
Argus Research's product category is Investment Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACAGAA, Equity Research, with a secondary code of FSAAAAAO, Investor Education, Research & Portfolio Analytics Services (Retail). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.