Mason team wins CFA Institute Research Challenge in Virginia
For the fifth time in the last six years, a team of students from the Mason School became the CFA Institute Research Challenge champions in Virginia, beating out six other universities from the state. This year’s winners, under the guidance of Professors Hugh Marble and Peter Gore, included Patrick Savage '16, Josh Siegler '16, Harrison Fallon '16, Antonin Scalia '17, and Conor Keevey '17.
Held annually, the CFA Institute Research Challenge is a global competition providing university students with hands-on training and experience in financial analysis. Working in teams, students analyze a publicly traded company and produce a research report with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation. This year, each competing team analyzed the financial performance of Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc., a real estate investment firm that owns one of the largest portfolios of upscale, select-service hotels in the United States. Financial industry experts and CFA charterholders judged the report based on accuracy, insight, and depth of analysis.
William & Mary team member Antonin Scalia was thrilled to win the Virginia region along with his four teammates. “The overall experience was among the most rewarding I've had during my three years at William & Mary,” he said. “I learned an immense amount from each of my teammates, as well as from our advisors and the other presenters.”
Conor Keevey agrees. “The experience was fulfilling because we used what we learned in all of our finance classes to create a comprehensive presentation,” he said. “I couldn't imagine graduating without participating in the competition, and I'm extremely pleased with who I was able to work with.”
The winning team advanced to the Americas competition in Chicago, where they competed with students from North and South America, earning a spot among the top 100 teams worldwide.
Professor Hugh Marble, Faculty Advisor for this year’s challenge, had high praise for the team. “We were incredibly pleased with the team’s performance and how well they worked together. It’s really satisfying to know the students feel they learned a lot from participating in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. It was great to work with them.”
