Investment Research Challenge - Texas - Overview 

Taking it Regional 

A few years ago, the CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and the CFA Society of Houston teamed up to launch an exciting new initiative, Investment Research Challenge – Texas.  In the initial year of the Challenge, a team of MBA/BBA students from Rice, A&M, TCU and SMU competed with each other on analyzing, writing, and presenting a report recommending a “Buy”, “Sell”, or “Hold” position on a publicly traded company.  The societies assisted in providing education tools; the goal being to provide a value-added real-world application for these students.  The teams were then assigned the company to analyze with access to the CEO. Teams were given a template to follow in completing their written analysis/report.  All four Texas societies, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio provided mentors for the teams, judges or graders. Finalist teams competed before an oral panel made up of leaders in our investment community at the Texas Investment Portfolio Symposium (TIPS).  The winning team went on to compete regionally and globally against other winners hosted by CFA Institute in New York City.    

Each year the local challenge has grown, and last year it was expanded beyond Texas.  For the 2011 year a total of 12 teams will compete:

 LSU - Louisana State University
Northwestern State
Rice University
SMU - Southern Methodist University
TAMU -Texas A&M University
TCU - Texas Christian University
TTU - Texas Tech University
Tulane University
UH - University of Houston
UT - University of Texas - Austin
UTD - University of Texas - Dallas
UTSA - University of Texas - San Antonio

Get Involved

Contact Sharon Criswell, CFA-DFW (214-451-2390) or scriswell@almfirst.com . Tell her how you are interested in becoming involved.

Investment Research Challenge was originated and trademarked by the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA).  The CFA Institute now sponsors the Investment Research Challenge and takes a strong role in supporting local CFA societies that decide to roll out a Challenge.  In the Texas and Southwest region, the sponsoring societies of the challenge pay 100% of Level I enrollment for the winning team and 50% of Level I enrollment for the second place team.  More information regarding the Global Investment Research Challenge can be found at www.cfainstitute.org.  From the home page, select the “Societies” tab then the “Global Investment Research Challenge” tab. 

Team Awards

First Place Team will receive the following:

1. each team member will receive a scholarship covering 100% of thier fee of their next level of the CFA exam
2. the team will compete in New York City at the IRC Regional Finals with airfare and hotel paid by CFA Institute

Second Place Team will receive the following:

1. each team member will receive a scholarship covering 50% of their fee for their next level of CFA exam.

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