Research Challenge

A Member of the CFA Institute Global Network of Societies

CFA Institute Research Challenge hosted by CFA Society Rochester and CFA Society Buffalo

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.

Subject Company

Graham Corporation

The CFA Institute Research Challenge of Western New York is being hosted by Syracuse University, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management. The subject company is Graham Corporation and 11 universities will be competing for the right to represent the CFA Society Rochester and CFA Society Buffalo.

Participating Universities

Thank you to our Local Level Sponsors

2017 Winners

2017 CFA Institute Research Challenge Champions - Canisius College

For the 7th consecutive year, Canisius College has won the CFA Institute Research Challenge of Western New York. The oral competition and conference was held at Canisius College on February 20, 2017, along with two keynote speaker presentations and a career panel session. The University of Rochester team placed second, and SUNY Geneseo third. Also participating were Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY Buffalo, and SUNY Oswego. The subject company was Columbus McKinnon Corp. Each university submitted a Wall Street quality analyst report that was graded by CFA volunteers and an oral presentation that was also judged by CFA volunteers. Canisius will represent the CFA Societies of Buffalo and Rochester in the Americas Regional competition in Seattle, April 6-7, 2017.

2016 Winners

2016 CFA Institute Research Challenge Champions - Canisius College

Canisius College has won the 2016 CFA Institute Research Challenge of Western New York after the oral competition was held at SUNY Geneseo on Monday February 15, 2016. Cornell University placed second, and SUNY Geneseo third. All the universities involved did outstanding work analyzing and presenting their investment thesis on the subject company, Financial Institutions, Inc. Canisius will represent the CFA Societies of Buffalo and Rochester in the Americas Finals to be held in Chicago on April 13-14, 2016.

Past Winners Archive

To view winners from 2015 and older, click here.

CFA Institute

To learn about The Challenge and view the Offical Rules, click here.

Schedule of Events

Feb 28	CFA Institute Research Challenge of Western New York	Syracuse University The Martin J. Whitman School of Management
April 20-21	Americas Regional	New York
April 22	Global Final	New York

Volunteer Opportunities

For more information contact:

Dr. Richard Wall, CFA

Jeff Donlon, CFA