SLU Students Compete in the CFA Research Challenge
Two teams of Saint Louis University finance students competed in the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge in February.
Each year, participating universities assemble teams of three to five students to compete in the challenge. Teams are assigned a publicly traded company to analyze and must prepare a written report on that company recommending whether to buy, sell or hold the stock. Teams then present their findings to a panel of industry experts who act as judges. Winners are selected based on the students’ knowledge and analysis of the chosen company. The teams of SLU students analyzed St. Louis-based Core & Main (CNM).
The SLU team of Isaac Akinniyi, Adam Foley, Noah Peterson and Zach Sherman took home second place at this year’s St. Louis region local challenge, each earning a cash prize of $250 and a $500 scholarship to apply toward the CFA Level I examination. Thomas Doellman, Ph.D., associate professor of finance at Chaifetz School of Business, and James Shannahan, of Edward Jones, served as the team’s faculty and industry mentors, respectively. The second team of Carter Fortman, Sal Goaley and Logan Whitcomb took home third place, each earning a cash prize of $100. Naresh Bansal, Ph.D., professor of finance at the Chaifetz School, and Jennifer Rowland, of Aetna, served as the team’s faculty and industry mentors, respectively.
The SLU teams were narrowly edged out by a team from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Other universities competing included two teams from Washington University in St. Louis and one each from Maryville University, Lindenwood University, University of Missouri – St. Louis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Truman State University.
All SLU students competing were enrolled in the Applied Portfolio Management course during the fall 2024 semester, which gives students the chance to act as equity analysts and manage over $3 million of Saint Louis University’s endowment fund with the help of finance industry professionals from the St. Louis region.
“I am very proud of our students. They eagerly invested a significant amount of time out of their busy schedules, including over the winter break, to represent themselves and the Chaifetz School admirably,” Doellman said. “These students were well prepared for this competition, which allowed them to put the skills they acquired in Applied Portfolio Management to further practical use.”
According to the CFA Institute, more than 6,700 students and 1,000 universities from across the globe participated in the challenge in 2024. In addition to the practical experience in equity research students receive from the competition, the events are a great opportunity for students to network with industry professionals and peers from other universities.
About the Applied Portfolio Management Program
About the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.