Research Challenge

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CFA Institute Research Challenge

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that connects university students with investment professionals from within the CFA Society® network. The competition provides students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and ethics and tests participants' analytical, valuation, reporting writing, and presentation skills.

Members of our society, along with a faculty advisor and an industry mentor, work with teams of students to value a stock, write a research report, and present their recommendations. Teams then compete with peers from other schools at local-level competitions organized and judged by CFA Society members and volunteers. The winning university team(s) from each local competition then advances to see who will become the sub-regional, regional, and global champions. 

Learn more and read FAQs See the schedule and get involved

How to Get Involved

The Research Challenge provides all participants – both individuals and organizations – with incredible opportunities to get involved.

  • Students: Find out if your university participates by asking your professor, our Society, or checking the participating universities list.
  • Universities: Form your team and give students the opportunity to compete against their peers and gain real-world experience.
  • Employers: Become a judge, mentor, grader, speaker, or corporate sponsor.

Hartford Local Competition

The CFA Society Hartford hosts a local competition as part of the annual CFA Institute Global Research Challenge (The Research Challenge) in association with the CFA Society Providence and the CFA Society Stamford. One team of three to five students per university is challenged to conduct an equity analysis of a public company, specified by the CFA Society Hartford. Each university may have up to two teams.

Contact CFA Society Hartford to get involved

2026 Research Challenge Competition

October 23, 2025 | Kick-Off Event including subject company reveal

November 6, 2025 - Register as a participant

December 2, 2025

January 6, 2026 | Emailed by 5PM Team follow-up questions for Subject Company emailed to administrator@hartfordcfa.org
January 13, 2026 | Emailed Subject Company responds to follow-up questions
January 27, 2026 | 1st Draft due to Industry Mentor
February 2, 2026 | Written Report Deadline due at midnight and emailed to administrator@hartfordcfa.org
February 11, 2026 | Announcement of 8 Finalist Teams
February 26, 2026 | Local Final Presentations Finalist Teams

Feedback from Student of 2024 Research Challenge

I hope you enjoyed the weekend and had a relaxing Father's Day. I wanted to follow up on the CFA Research Challenge from the Fall and share an update on my end. I recently accepted an offer to join the research team at Evercore next summer. Being able to talk about my experiences in the research challenge was a driving factor in securing the internship. I want to thank you for your help throughout the process. I know our team suffered some headcount losses along the way, but I appreciate you bearing with us and providing us with your guidance. Thank you again for everything, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.

2026 CFA Institute Local Society Research Challenge Kickoff Recording

CFA Society Hartford | CFA Institute Research Challenges:

2025 

Video of Kick-Off - October 25, 2024 | Start the video at 9:58

Subject Company: Crane 

Participating Teams

Started with 24 teams from 14 Universities:

  • Central CT State University (2)
  • Connecticut College (3)
  • Eastern CT State University
  • Nichols College
  • Providence College (3)
  • Quinnipiac University
  • Roger Williams University
  • Sacred Heart University
  • Salve Regina University
  • Springfield College
  • UCONN - Stamford
  • UCONN - Storrs
  • University of Hartford (2)
  • University of New Haven (2)*
  • Yale University – SOM**

* 1 team withdrew

** School withdrew

8 Teams advanced to Presentation Round on February 27, 2025

  • Central CT State University - A
  • Central CT State University - B
  • Connecticut College - A
  • Providence College - A
  • Providence College - B
  • Quinnipiac University
  • Roger Williams University
  • Sacred Heart University

CFA Research Challenge Sub-Regional Champions 

Sacred Heart University advanced 

CFA Research Challenge Local Final Champions

  • 1ST PLACE: Quinnipiac University & Sacred Heart University
  • RUNNER UP: Providence College – Team A & Providence College – Team B

2024

  • Subject Company: Hexcel Corporation
  • Kick-Off Event Zoom View Recording of Local CFA Research Challenge Kickoff - Password required to view
  • Participating Universities: Central CT State University (2 teams), Connecticut College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Providence College (3 teams), Rhode Island College, Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University, Trinity College, UConn Stamford, UConn Storrs, University of New Haven, Yale School of Management / Yale College
  • Finalist Teams: Central CT State University Team A, Providence College Team A, Providence College Team C, Trinity College
  • Winning Team: Providence College Team A | Research Report

2023

Due to inclement weather, the Finals were streamed live.

  • Subject Company: Kaman Corporation
  • Participating Universities: Bryant University, Central CT State University, Eastern CT State University, Providence College, Sacred Heart University, Trinity College, UCONN - Stamford, UCONN - Storrs, University of Hartford. University of New Haven, Yale University
  • Finalist Teams: Sacred Heart University, Providence College, UCONN - Stamford, Central CT State University 
  • Winning Team: Sacred Heart University | Research Report

2022

  • Subject Company: Otis Worldwide
  • Participating Universities: Bryant University, Providence College, Sacred Heart University, Trinity College, UCONN, UCONN Stamford, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, Yale School of Management
  • Finalist Teams: Providence College, UConn – Storrs, UConn – Stamford, Bryant University
  • Winning Team: Providence College | Research Report
  • View Photos
  • View Team Final Presentation Video

2021

  • Subject Company: Interactive Brokers
  • Kick-Off Presentation
  • Participating Universities: Bryant University, Providence College, Trinity College, Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University, UCONN, UCONN Stamford, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, Yale School of Management
  • Finalist Teams: UConn, Providence College, and Trinity College
  • Winning Team: Providence College | Research Report
  • Student Presentations Video

2020

  • Subject Company  FACTSET
  • Participating Universities: Bryant University, University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University Trinity College, UConn – Graduate, UConn – Stamford, UConn – Storrs, Southern CT State University, Providence College
  • Finalist Teams: Bryant, Providence College, Trinity College, UCONN Stamford
  • Winning Team: Providence College | Research Report
  • View Student Presentations Video

2019

  • Subject Company SS&C Technologies
  • Video Kickoff Presentation
  • Participating Universities:  Bryant University, Providence College, Sacred Heart University, Trinity College, UCONN, UCONN Stamford, University of New Haven
  • Finalist Teams: University of New Haven, UConn - Storrs, UConn - Hartford Graduate Team
  • Winning Team: University of Connecticut, Hartford Graduate Team | Research Report
  • Video of Student Presentations
  • View Photos

    2018

      2017

        2016

        • Subject Company: Barnes Group
        • Local Kick-Off Presentation
        • Participating Universities: Central Connecticut State University, New Haven University, Providence College, Southern Connecticut State University, Trinity College, UConn, University of Hartford
        • Finalist Teams: Providence College (2 Teams), Trinity and UConn
        • View Photos

          2015

          • Subject Company: Stanley Black & Decker
          • Participating Universities: Bryant University, Providence, Trinity College, University of Hartford
          • View Photos

          2014

          • Subject company: Aetna
          • Participating Universities: Bryant University, Providence College, Trinity College, Uconn, and University of Hartford