Last month, EADA selected the two teams that will participate in the CFA Research Challenge 2020. The annual Research Challenge is hosted by the CFA Institute, the premier global association for investment management professionals. Each year, more than 5,000 students from top universities and business schools compete to produce a comprehensive equity research report for a publically listed company (this year: Repsol).
The Challenge involves several steps:
- Analysis of a public company
- Mentoring by a professional research analyst or portfolio manager
- Writing an equity research report
- Presentation of research to a panel of experts
EADA has consistently been placed in the top three positions in the Madrid final, and last year’s team made it all the way to the EMEA 2019 final in Switzerland. “Attending the EMEA final was a great experience,” confirms Jaume Bonet, director of the programmes in the area of finance. “This year’s teams are very motivated to repeat last year’s success.”
Egyptian student Ahmed ElMenoufy is thrilled to have been selected to participate. “The CFA is like being in the elite of the elite in finance,” he confirms. “I am most excited about the learning process because I have never evaluated a company. This experience will help me prepare for my goal of working in financial institutions with mergers, acquisitions and evaluations.”
For the second year in a row, EADA has selected two teams of 5 for the Challenge. There was stiff competition among participants to participate in the event, with just 10 out of 22 students selected from the International Master in Finance, Master Internacional en Finanzas – Bilingüe and International Master in Accounting & Financial Management programmes. In addition to an in-depth analysis of each candidate’s qualifications, the Selection Committee heard individual presentations to evaluate communication and presentation skills.
For Felicia Miller, the Research Challenge moved her closer to not one, but two of her future goals. “Before coming to EADA, I considered either doing a master or preparing for the CFA exam as two separate options,” she says. “Competing in the CFA Research Challenge in an accredited institution gives me the opportunity to do both at the same time.”
What excites me most is learning new things, gaining in-depth knowledge in a practical way, and getting to know our team.
The teams have already started working, as the deadline for turning in the final equity research report is February 6, 2020. At this time, finalists are selected to compete at the Madrid Stock Market at the end of February, defending an oral presentation of their report in front of a panel of experts.
All team members participating in the CFA Research Challenge wholeheartedly recommend the experience. “What excites me most is learning new things, gaining in-depth knowledge in a practical way, and getting to know our team to produce the best possible result,” says CFA team member Florencia Solari.