Online research firm, Shareclarity, could expand its stock coverage in the wake of a recent deal with the NZX, according to founder Daniel Kieser.
Kieser said under the ‘partnership’ arrangement announced last week, Shareclarity would access corporate data directly from the NZX in real time.
“From our perspective we can now get market data faster and cleaner than before so we can do what we do better,” he said. “That means we will be able to allocate more resource to researching companies.”
The Auckland-based stock research house currently covers about 300 firms listed in NZ, Australia and Hong Kong, providing information to investors on a subscription basis.
Launched in 2014, Shareclarity offers subscribers with ‘crowd-sourced’ valuations as well as a raft of corporate data and analytical tools to aid share investment decisions.
As well as the immediate boost to service quality, Kieser said the NZX partnership could lead to further benefits for both parties as they shared technology and information.
For example, he said the promise of third-party research could encourage more companies to list on the NZX.
“If the starting point for an IPO is that companies need institutional research then it could help that Shareclarity at least is able to provide it,” Kieser said. “Companies have to tick so many boxes to list so this could be one tool that helps get them over the line.”
The NZX agreement comes just a few months after Shareclarity struck a deal with FNZC to provide its research technology to the share broker’s new Direct Wealth arm. FNZC bought the online trading platform ANZ Securities in May, to be rolled out under the Direct Broking brand later this year.
FNZC hired former NZ Superannuation Fund (NZS) head of investments, Fiona Mackenzie, last November to run the new Direct Wealth division, targeting a mass-affluent market. The Direct Broking platform, which will include Shareclarity research, will be open to FNZC clients and any ANZ customers who elected to transition.
Kieser said both the FNZC and NZX deals could broaden over time if all parties saw the value.
“We have to think about how Shareclarity can enhance their customers’ experience,” he said.
Shareclarity was adding about 70-80 new members to its retail research platform each week, Kieser said, compared to 20-30 last year.