Trying to decide whether to buy or sell shares of New York Times Co.? Ask Jaison Blair. No, not Jayson Blair, the ex-Times scribe who gained worldwide infamy when the paper dismissed him in 2003 for fabricating quotes and plagiarizing from competitors, among other sins. Jaison Blair, 33, is one of eight analysts at Rochdale Securities, a 30-year-old institutional brokerage that last year began building an in-house research team.
In addition to media stocks like New York Times, Blair also covers an array of retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Build-A-Bear Workshop. The firm relies heavily on a sophisticated computer model to screen investment ideas, enabling a small group of researchers to cover more than 500 stocks.
“Rest assured, all of his work is his own,” quips Nick Colas, the director of research at New Yorkbased Rochdale, about Blair. The analyst’s moniker, he adds, has been more amusing than confusing for clients and colleagues.
But what’s Blair’s view on New York Times Co.? Well, the jury’s still out on how much long-term damage that other Blair has done to its franchise. Jaison rates the stock a hold.
