TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CFA Society Toronto and CFA Society Ottawa have selected four Ontario university teams as finalists for the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge, a global equity research competition among student teams from elite business and finance programs.
Student teams from the following universities will present their research and analysis of the subject company, Loblaw Companies Limited. Findings will be presented to a panel of financial industry professionals in Toronto on February 10, 2014:
- Queen's University
- Sprott School of Business/Carleton University
- University of Waterloo
- Wilfrid Laurier University
This annual educational initiative is designed to promote best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.
"CFA Society Toronto promotes the value of practical learning through the support of student focused initiatives. By participating in the CFA Institute Research Challenge students gain an understanding and perspective of the "real world" challenges involved when analyzing actual companies and competing with each other to produce the best equity research report. Extracurricular activities such as the CFA Institute Research Challenge, helps the next generation of financial professionals develop their analytical skill sets with practical application." said Sue Lemon, CFA, CEO of CFA Society Toronto.
The local level of the Research Challenge provides students with the unique opportunity to develop and present an equity research report on Canada's own supermarket chain and compete on a global basis. Students learn from leading industry experts and their peers from the world's top business schools. Competing universities assemble teams of three to five students who work directly with Loblaw Companies Limited in researching and preparing a company analysis.
This competition is unique because it promotes best practices, research skills, analysis, report writing, and presentation skills in action.
"We would like to extend congratulations to student teams from Queen's, Sprott/Carleton, Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier for being amongst the four finalists out of the original group of 11 that are contending for the 2014 local championship." added Lemon.
Note to editors: The winning team will be announced at an Awards Reception, at approximately 5:00pm on February 10th. The event is open to the media who can register by emailing (eventregistration@cfatoronto.ca) Interviews are available upon request by emailing (media@cfatoronto.ca) The Awards Reception will be held from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at Scotiabank, 40 King Street West, 63rd Floor, Toronto, ON.
The local winner will compete in the CFA Institute Research Challenge Americas Regional level, which will be held in Denver, Colorado in March 2014. The winner of the Regional level will then progress to the Global Final in April.
For more information visit the CFA Institute Research Challenge website
About CFA Society Toronto
CFA Society Toronto supports the professional and business development of more than 8,000 CFA charterholders in Toronto, making it the second largest member society in the world. It provides members with a local perspective on a global designation, including: educational programs, sponsored events, job postings, quarterly newsletters, a comprehensive affinity program and networking opportunities. A not-for-profit organization, CFA Society Toronto is affiliated with CFA Institute, the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst curriculum and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Society Toronto's members are leaders in ethics in the financial community. For more information, please refer to www.cfatoronto.ca.
About CFA Society Ottawa
CFA Society Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization that supports the professional and business development of approximately 300 CFA charterholders in the Ottawa region. Consisting of portfolio managers, security analysts, investment advisors, and other financial professionals, we promote: ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, encourage professional development through the CFA Program and continuing education, facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among people within the local investment community and beyond, and; work to further the public's understanding of the CFA designation and investment industry. CFA Society Ottawa is affiliated with CFA Institute, the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst curriculum and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. For more information, please refer to www.cfaottawa.ca
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors' interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 117,000 members in 140 countries and territories, including 110,000 CFA charterholders, and 140 member societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.