Local Final competition to be held at the Embrace the Challenge event on February 12, 2025
(TORONTO, ON) January 30, 2025 – CFA Society Toronto and CFA Society Ottawa are pleased to announce the 2025 finalists of the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge local round. The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students work in teams to research and analyze a publicly traded company and write a comprehensive research report with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation.
There are six stages teams must successfully navigate to be crowned winners of the CFA Institute Research Challenge: preliminary, local, sub-regional, regional semifinals, regional finals, and global levels. At each stage, teams present and defend their analysis to panels of industry professionals. Students gain invaluable experience from seasoned experts and peers from the world’s top business schools.
This year, 12 Ontario university student teams competed in the Toronto-Ottawa local competition of the CFA Institute Annual Research Challenge. The student teams prepared equity research reports on this year’s subject company, BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO), a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems, and boats, built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. The reports were presented and scored by a panel of investment industry professionals during the preliminary rounds, which were held January 20 – 23, 2025.
Based on their scores, the following top four teams will advance to the local finals on February 12, 2025, as part of CFA Society Toronto’s Embrace the Challenge event.
2025 CFA Institute Research Challenge Finalists for the CFA Society Toronto & CFA Society Ottawa Local Round
- George Brown College, School of Accounting & Finance
- University of Guelph, Lang School of Business & Economics
- University of Waterloo, School of Accounting & Finance
- York University, Schulich School of Business
"The annual CFA Institute Research Challenge provides an exceptional learning opportunity for the participating students,” says Fred Pinto, CFA, ICD.D, CEO of CFA Society Toronto. “This competition allows them to apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world company, enhancing their analytical and valuation skills. We are committed to fostering the next generation of investment professionals and we congratulate the finalists of this year’s competition."
CFA Society Toronto's local competition has a history of excellence. In the 2024 global final held in Warsaw, Poland, a student team from the University of Waterloo (the winners of the local Toronto challenge) was named Global Champions of the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Competing against teams from around the world, the University of Waterloo team demonstrated outstanding analytical and presentation skills, bringing international recognition to Canadian talent.
Final Competition & Awards Presentation
The finalists will compete and the winner will be presented at CFA Society Toronto’s Embrace the Challenge event on February 12, 2025, at 16 York Street in Toronto. This full-day program showcases three student competitions that highlight how emerging finance professionals leverage knowledge, ethics, and passion to shape the future of the investment industry. Sponsored by RBC Global Asset Management, this event includes:
- CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge (9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.): Teams demonstrate integrity and critical thinking by solving ethical dilemmas in real-world investment scenarios.
- CFA Institute Research Challenge (3:00–6:30 p.m.): University teams present equity research to a panel of industry judges, showcasing analytical skills and investment recommendations.
- Awards Reception (6:00–8:00 p.m.): Winners of each competition will be announced, in addition to the winners of the CFA Society Toronto Undergraduate Finance & Economics Awards.
For more information about this event, including how to register to attend, please visit: https://cvent.me/LERblO.
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About CFA Society Toronto
CFA Society Toronto is the world's largest Society of CFA® Charterholders, dedicated to supporting the professional and business development of more than 11,500 members. With a focus on education, networking, and thought leadership, CFA Society Toronto empowers finance professionals to excel in a dynamic and competitive global market. Founded in 1936, CFA Society Toronto is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with CFA Institute, the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) curriculum and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. For more information, visit cfatoronto.ca.
About CFA Society Ottawa
CFA Society Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization that supports the professional and business development of over 400 CFA Charterholders in the Ottawa region. Consisting of portfolio managers, security analysts, investment advisors, and other financial professionals, we promote ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, encourage professional development through the CFA Program and continuing education, facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among people within the local investment community and beyond, and work to further the public's understanding of the CFA designation and investment industry. For more information, please visit www.cfaottawa.ca.
About BRP
BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems, and boats, built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Alumacraft and Quintrex boats, Manitou pontoons and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across different playgrounds. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP has annual sales of CA$10.4 billion from over 130 countries and a global workforce of close to 20,000 driven, resourceful people.
www.brp.com | @BRPNews
Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Rotax, Alumacraft, Manitou, Quintrex, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization champions ethical behavior in investment markets and is a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. Our aim is to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. There are more than 190,000 CFA Charterholders worldwide in 165 markets. CFA Institute has nine offices worldwide and 160 local member societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.orgor follow us on Twitter @CFAInstitute and on Facebook.
Chartered Financial Analyst® and CFA® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
MEDIA CONTACT:
PUNCH Canada Inc.
Akanksha Patil
Account Manager
p:647-838-9248
e: akanksha@punchcanada.com