University Relations
CFA INSTITUTE RESEARCH CHALLENGE

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global equity research competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst and are tested on their ability to value a stock, write an initiation-of-coverage report, and present their recommendations.

How It Works

Each team either selects or is assigned an industry mentor who helps them throughout the competition.

The written research reports are submitted to CFA Society Toronto and graded by local industry practitioners. 

A panel of professional, investment judges score the teams’ 10-minute presentation and 10-minute question and answer session.

The top 4 scoring teams advance to the final round of the local competition.

The winning team of the local competition advances to the CFA Institute Research Challenge Sub-regional competition. The winner from each regional competition will advance to the CFA Institute Research Challenge global competition, where one team will emerge as global champion.

How To Register Your Team

A faculty advisor from your university chooses and organizes a team (3-5 members) for the local level. A maximum of 2 teams per university campus is permitted to compete. Students must attend at least 80% of their classes at the particular campus to represent that campus.  For the Research Challenge, students must be enrolled as a full or part-time student by the registration deadline date.