CFA Institute Research Challenge

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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. The challenge comprises analysis of a publicly-traded company, mentoring by a professional research analyst, writing a research report, and presentation of research to a panel of experts. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

CFA Society Los Angeles is proud to host the annual local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge in Los Angeles.

About          Official Rules       Fact Sheet           Educational Resources


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2026 Participating Universities

  • California State University, Dominguez Hills
  • California State University, Fullerton
  • California State University, Los Angeles
  • California State University, Northridge
  • Claremont Graduate University 
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Pepperdine University

To be a future participant, please contact Steven Wang, CFA at IRC@cfala.org.

Schedule

  • Team Submission Deadline - 
  • IRC Kick-Off Presentation/Call - October 17th, 2025 at 4pm
  • Subject Company Meeting/Call - November 7th - 9am (PT)
  • Register with CFA Institute Deadline - Click Here
  • Final Report Due - January 19th, 2026
  • Local IRC Competition - February 13th, 2026 @California State University, Dominguez Hills
  • Sub-Regional Kickoff - March 2026
  • Sub-Regional Video Presentations Due - TBD
  • Sub-Regional Advancement Announcement - TBD
  • Regional IRC Semifinals -  March 31st-April 1st 2026 (live virtual in Zoom)
  • Regional IRC Finals - April 2nd-3rd 2026
  • Global IRC Final - May 2026 (Hong Kong)

2026 Subject Company

2025 CFA Institute Research Challenge in Los Angeles Champions: Team B of California State University, Fullerton

Nirvan Chitnis, Luke Knudson, Dylan Nguyen, Kishan Patel, and Trisha Truong 
Mentored by Derek Derman, CFA and Faculty Advisor Kelly Ko, CFA 

Volunteer Opportunities

The challenge is a volunteer-intensive effort and requires the participation of many industry-leading portfolio managers and analysts. Volunteering opportunities include grading written research reports, mentoring a team, presentation assistance, or judging oral presentations. CFA continuing education credit may be available for volunteering. If you are interested in helping in any of these capacities, please email Caitlin Topkis at caitlin@cfala.org.

Students and Faculty

If you are a student or faculty member from a college or university in Los Angeles area and are interested in joining the 2026 CFA Institute Research Challenge, please send an email to info@cfala.org.

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