The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students work in teams to research and analyse a publicly traded company - this year's company is G4S - and then write and present a report with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation. This is the tenth year CFA UK has hosted a local Research Challenge event.
Find out more about attending the UK Final on 22 March 2017 and register your free place (limited spaces).
CFA UK is pleased to announce the 2017 UK Research Challenge finalists, following entries from 17 universities, as:
- Cranfield University
- King’s College London
- University of Exeter
- University of Stirling
The 2017 UK Final
The finalists will join us at the UK final at 5pm on Wednesday 22 March at Thomson Reuters, Canary Wharf, London The event will be combined with a careers panel, and, whilst the judges are deliberating over the winner, the panel will explain the roles they do, what skills they need for the role and how has the CFA Program has helped them, there will also be an opportunity to answer questions from the floor.
The panelists are:
- James Zimmerman, CFA, Fund Manager, Jupiter
- Katie Stafford, CFA, Client Portfolio Manger, Schroders
- Nathaniel Clark, Equity Analyst, M&G
- Moderator: Jane Coffey, ASIP, Chair, CFA UK Careers Committee
The winning team will be announced on the night and they will then progress to the EMEA Regional Final, to be held in Prague, Czech Republic on 26-27 April 2017.
A unique opportunity for students worldwide
The Research Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally and globally for a real world competition. In order to promote best practice in equity research and company analysis, students from business schools across the globe, research, analyse and report on a company from the perspective of independent research analysts. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and adhere to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
2016 statistics
- 4,000+ Students
- 2,500+ Industry volunteers
- 865 Universities
- 137 CFA societies
- 99 Local level challenges
- 70 Countries
JUMPING FOR JOY: 2016 winning team from Stirling University (from left to right) Kwabena Antwi Boasiako (Kobby), Quynh Huong Nguyen (Jenny), Chris Brown, Ting Hu (Christy) and Xinyl Yao (Sydney). Mentored by Jim Campbell, CFA, ACMA, ASIP (not pictured).
How the Research Challenge works
Local CFA societies host and launch a Research Challenge in conjunction with participating universities. The universities assemble teams of three to five business, economics or finance students who work with a company to conduct investment research and prepare a company analysis, with guidance from a faculty adviser and investment industry mentor. Students will typically have the opportunity to attend a presentation and Q&A session with management of the company.
The reports are graded by expert practitioners, with the top-scoring teams invited to the local Challenge Final. The teams’ presentations are then evaluated by high-profile panels consisting of heads of research, portfolio managers, and chief investment officers from the world’s top firms.
Benefits of participation
Students: Develop your resume/CV through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.
Universities: Showcase your university on a global scale and provide your students with practical training and invaluable exposure to top industry professionals.
Mentors and Panelists: Encourage best practices in research within the next generation of investment professionals and help give back to the investment profession in a high-impact manner.
Find out more about attending the UK Final on 22 March 2017 and register your free place (limited spaces).
Follow the event on Twitter: #CFAResearchChallenge