Steven Ralston, CFA, is the Senior Special Situations Analyst with Zacks Small-Cap Research with over 30 years of experience in the securities and investment industry. Steven has covered companies within the Consumer Staples, Consumer Durable, Industrial, Financial, Health Care, Energy and Basic Material sectors since joining Zacks in 2004. Steven has been quoted in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and Forbes, among others.

Prior to joining Zacks, Steven was the Director of Research at First National Bank of Maryland, portfolio manager of General Accident's domestic and Canadian equity pension portfolios, and co-manager of Blackrock's $2.3 billion Large Cap Growth Fund. He received his initial investment training at Merrill Lynch. Steven was the senior analyst covering auto parts industry for First National Bank of Maryland from 1983-1995, BlackRock from 1998-2003 and Zacks from 2004-present.

Steven graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science from M.I.T and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder.