CFA INSTITUTE RESEARCH CHALLENGE
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.
What is the CFA Institute Research Challenge?
The Research Challenge is a competition between university sponsored Teams that research a designated publicly traded company, prepare a Written Report on that select company and then present their findings to a panel of Judges.
Go to the global CFA Institute Research Challenge page here.
How does the Challenge Work?
- The national CFA society hosts and launches the Research Challenge in conjunction with the participating universities.
- The universities assemble teams of 3-5 business and finance students who work directly with a company in researching and preparing a company analysis.
- Mentors with equity analysis experience will be assigned to each team to help the students.
- Each team (max two team per school) submits a research report on a specified company and later does a final presentation in front of a judge’s panel consisting of high-profile members of the Danish investment community.
Faculty Advisors
Each University appoints a Faculty Advisor. The Advisor’s primary responsibility is to provide guidance and diretion to the Team throughout all levels of the competition. The Teams are permitted a total of 10 hours Advisor time of substantive matters at the local level, with three extra hours for each new level of the competition.
Industry Mentor
Each team is provided a Mentor by CFA Society Denmark. The Industry Mentor may review the Team’s written report, but may only provide comments. Industry Mentors are not permitted to perform any research or write any portion of the report. Students may not receive assistance from additional finance industry professionals.
Student resources
- Students get involved (CFA Institute)
- Student preparation page (CFA Institute) (login required)
- Past Global Winners’ Reports and Slides
Volunteer Opportunities
- Industry Mentor: hands on work with university student
- Report Grader: review and grade student research reports
- Presentation Judge: listen to and critique student stock rec-ommendations
Timeline 2022/2023
| Mid September (date to be set) 2022 | Research Challenge Student Town Hall Session – view last year’s recording here |
| Friday 23 September 2022 | University sign-up, registered with CFA Institute and CFA Society Denmark |
| Friday 30 September 2022 at 14:00-14:30 | Kick-off orientation, subject company disclosed |
| Thursday 27 October 2022 at 15:00-16:30 | Subject company presentation |
| Beginning/mid-January (date to be set) 2023 | Q&A session with subject company |
| Monday 13 February 2023 | Written report due, grading starts |
| Tuesday 28 February 2023 | Danish/Norwegian Final in Oslo |
| Tuesday 7 March 2023 | Sub-Regional Kick-off |
| Sunday 19 March 2023 | Sub-Regional Video Presentation Due |
| Friday 31 March 2023 | Sub-Regional Advancement Announcement |
| Thursday 6 April 2023 | EMEA Regional Semifinals (live virtual in Zoom) |
| Thursday 13 April 2023 | EMEA Regional Finals (live virtual in Zoom, will be livestreamed for larger audience) |
| Wednesday 3 May 2023 | Global final in Washington DC |
➤ Contact mail@finansforeningen.dk to get involved.
Thank you to Kaplan Schweser for sponsoring the Research Challenge. Schweser provides support to university students and faculty through discounted exam prep materials, free resources, and review program offerings. You can learn more about these offerings at www.schweser.com.
