Baird analyst predicts year-end stock rally; Clifton Gunderson to move HQ to Mayfair Woods
Baird analyst predicts year-end stock rally
Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. chief investment analyst Bruce Bittles says the stock market appears to be poised for a year-end rally.
In his “Morning Call” bulletin issued on Monday, Bittles wrote, “The rally that emerged in the middle of the week was spurred by favorable news developments both at home and abroad, but it came following repeated selling attempts that dried up, and with strong participation. The inability of sellers to take control early in the week underscores the bullish factors that are supporting the market as we move into 2011 – breadth indicators remain positive, seasonal trends offer a tailwind, and fed policy, at least in the near term, is favorable for stocks. The market’s downside momentum and series of lower peaks in the S&P 500 that emerged over the course of November have been broken. Additionally, near-term breadth indicators have turned more bullish after last week’s breakout. Together this suggests the path of least resistance into 2011 is now higher.”
Clifton Gunderson to move HQ to Mayfair Woods
Clifton Gunderson LLP plans to move its corporate headquarters from 10001 Innovation Drive in Wauwatosa, to the Mayfair Woods Business & Technology Center at 10700 Research Drive in Wauwatosa.
Both buildings are located in the Milwaukee County Research Park.
The accounting firm plans to complete the move on May 1. The company will occupy approximately 28,000 square feet of space on the second floor of the Mayfair Woods building.
Currently, the firm has about 27,000 square feet of office space at 10001 Innovation Drive.
However, the Mayfair Woods space will be built out specifically for Clifton Gunderson, which will increase efficiency and allow room for more employees, company spokeswoman Jen Dirks said. The company currently has 88 employees in its headquarters and is planning to add more, she said.
“It’s definitely a more modern building,” Dirks said. “It’s an impressive building.”
Clifton Gunderson has had an office at 10001 Innovation Drive since 2003. In 2009, the firm moved its corporate headquarters from Peoria, Ill., to Wauwatosa, in conjunction with the promotion of Krista McMasters to chief executive officer.
“Our decision to relocate firm headquarters and our Milwaukee practice office to this new location is in direct response to our growing presence in the Milwaukee business community,” said Todd Craft, chief business officer. “Mayfair Woods will accommodate our expanding personnel and firm resource needs and is convenient and central to our employees and clients. Our commitment to the Milwaukee community is further evidenced by this move and we look forward to continuing to provide our expertise to support the ever growing needs of our clients.”
“We have developed a solid reputation with our clients as the firm of choice,” said Mark Williams, managing partner of Clifton Gunderson’s Wisconsin practice. “We are confident our decision to relocate firm headquarters and our Milwaukee practice to this new location will further enhance that reputation and our commitment to our clients and prospective clients.”
Mayfair Woods, built in 2008, is owned by Wauwatosa-based Irgens Development Partners LLC. The five-story office building has a total of 163,350 square feet of space. It also serves as the headquarters for Irgens. Other tenants in the building include Zywave Inc., Next Generation Wealth Management Inc. and the Milwaukee area office for Neenah-based Miron Construction Co. Inc.
“We are excited to welcome Clifton Gunderson as a business partner and tenant in our Mayfair Woods location,” said Jaclynn Walsh, a principal with Irgens Development Partners, LLC. “We have enjoyed our working relationship with Clifton Gunderson and look forward to our future partnership.”
As part of the deal, a large Clifton Gunderson sign will be placed on the outside of the Mayfair Woods building, which will be visible to motorists on busy Mayfair Road.
“It’s highly visible,” Dirks said. “That was a huge selling point for us.”
