Chris Kotowicz, CFA
17 Years at AB|30 Years of Experience
Chris Kotowicz joined the firm in 2007 and is a Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst for US Relative Value. He is also a Senior Research Analyst for the US Growth Equities team. As a Senior Research Analyst, Kotowicz is responsible for lead coverage of the industrials, energy and materials sectors. He was previously a sell-side analyst at A.G. Edwards, where he followed the electrical equipment and multi-industry group for four years. Prior to that, Kotowicz worked in the industrial sector, mostly in a technical sales and business development capacity, for Nooter/Eriksen and Nooter Fabricators, each a subsidiary of CIC Group. He holds a BS in civil engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and an MBA (with honors) from the Olin Business School at Washington University. He is a CFA charterholder. Location: Chicago
Published Work
Tax cuts alone can’t save a weak business, but high-quality companies can put a tax-break windfall to good use for investors.
An extended period of elevated interest rates may have long-term implications for both consumers and businesses—affecting how investors value company shares.
Are equity valuations attractive today? The answer varies from company to company and will require an active approach to separate winners from losers.
As equity style winds shift, investors are still debating the merits of growth versus value stocks. But we believe quality remains the essential focal point, especially amid a low interest-rate environment that has changed the math behind company valuations.
Investors don't often pay much attention to corporate culture. But cultural norms can make the difference between success and failure, especially for growth companies.
Many US companies have enjoyed an earnings boost from premium products in recent years. But a strong sales mix may leave a company's profitability vulnerable in the late stages of an economic cycle, when spending trends begin to weaken.
Corporate investments are the cornerstone of future growth. Yet shareholders are often seduced by buybacks and dividends. Equity investors should always make sure companies strike the right balance between deploying cash flows for short-term shareholder rewards and strategic reinvestment.