CFA Institute Research Challenge

A Member of the CFA Institute Global Network of Societies

CFA Institute Research Challenge Hosted by CFA Society Minnesota

The CFA Institute Research Challenge offers students the unique opportunity to learn from leading

industry experts and compete with peers from the world’s top finance programs. This annual educational initiative promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.

The Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies, and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for a real world competition. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

CFA Society Minnesota is proud to host the 7th annual Upper Midwest Research Challenge.

2016-2017 Participating Universities (to-date)

Augustana University
Bethel University
College of St. Benedict & St. John's University
College of St. Scholastica
Macalester College (2 teams)
Minnesota State University Moorhead
North Dakota State University
University of Mary
University of Minnesota (2 teams)
University of Minnesota, Duluth (2 Teams)
University of St. Thomas
University of Wisconsin, Superior
Winona State University

2016-2017 Subject Company

The 2015-2016 Research Challenge subject company is Vascular Solutions (NASDAQ: VASC). This year's competition will be impressive, with numerous teams participating from schools throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The local competition involves more than 70 university students and countless volunteers.

About the Subject Company:
Vascular Solutions is a medical device company focused on delivering unique clinical niche solutions used in coronary and peripheral vascular procedures. Vascular Solutions products target the needs of interventional cardiologists, interventional radiologists, electrophysiologists and vein therapy. Vascular Solutions was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Vascular Solutions employs approximately 568 people worldwide.