Research Challenge

CFA Institute Research Challenge

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that connects university students with investment professionals from within the CFA Society^® network. The competition provides students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and ethics and tests participants' analytical, valuation, reporting writing, and presentation skills.

Members of our society, along with a faculty advisor and an industry mentor, work with teams of students to value a stock, write a research report, and present their recommendations. Teams then compete with peers from other schools at local-level competitions organized and judged by CFA Society members and volunteers. The winning university team(s) from each local competition then advances to see who will become the sub-regional, regional, and global champions.

Learn more and read FAQs See the schedule and get involved

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a great test for all students who are bold enough to face it. But, like any great challenge, the opportunities and rewards it offers are even greater.

The annual global equity research competition provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. Working in teams, students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of research analysts and are judged on their ability to value a stock, write a research report, and present their recommendations.

How does it work?

Local host coordinator will work with local universities to assemble teams of three (3) to five (5) undergraduate and/or graduate students.

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Teams research and analyse a designated publicly-traded company listed on Bursa Malaysia; prepare a written report on that company that supports their investment recommendation.

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Teams will receive advice and support from a faculty advisor and an industry mentor.

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Teams findings are evaluated and presented to a panel of industry experts.

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Winners from the local competitions advance to sub-regional competitions, then on to regional competitions in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, culminating in a global final.

Benefits of Participation

Showcase your university on a global scale	Augment classroom learning	Equip you with skills for better job prospects

Give students practical training equity research and exposure to industry experts	Network with professional peers from other universities and others in the community	Elevate your school's reputation and standing against competing schools

How to get involved?

Students / University

To participate in the Research Challenge:

Confirm your eligibility
Find out if your university participates
Follow up with a faculty advisor

Likewise, lecturers/professors can promote the Challenge to your students and field your best team and then prepare them to compete.

After you have organized your team, please sign up by dropping us an email when registration is open.

Email Us

Learn more about eligibility requirements and student participation

Volunteers

Volunteering roles available in the Research Challenge:

Industry Mentors
- Assist assigned teams throughout the competition
Report Grader
- Evaluate the team's written reports
Judge
- Evaluate the presentations during the local level competition.

Learn more about volunteer participation

Industry

Each CFA Institute Research Challenge team analyzes a publicly-traded company, writes a report that is reviewed and evaluated by report graders, and presents their analysis to a panel of judges who are also investment professionals.

Consider becoming the subject of the competition to: