The Harding finance team secured first place in the Southern U.S. Regionals of the CFA Investment Research Challenge, held at the University of Memphis on Feb. 2.
The finance team includes junior Taylor Pinch and seniors Adin Menkin, Josh Stevens, Kaylea White and Matt Flowers. The sponsors for the finance team are assistant professors Ken Moran and Ellis Sloan.
The team went up against eight other universities and through two rounds. The first round consisted of a written report on the company Chicago Bridge and Iron, which counted for 50 percent of the team’s points. The team had to predict a 12-month target price on the industry and the company’s trends in order to estimate how stock would rise over the following months. The other half of the score came from an oral presentation in front of judges, which included a PowerPoint presentation that highlighted the analysis of the company.
“They judged us based on our slides, our confidence and the way we explained everything,” Pinch said. “We had 10 minutes to go over our report and then we had a 10 minute question and answer session to see if we knew the company and if we could answer real life industry questions from an analyst’s perspective.”
The team had to research the company thoroughly and spend hours making the presentation and practicing their report. Menkin, who is a kicker for Harding’s football team, said he had to manage his time wisely to keep up with school, playing football and being a member of the finance team.
“I just had to balance everything, and I didn’t get much sleep,” Menkin said. “But it was a cool lesson looking back on it now. I’m going to face the same type of thing in my future career.”
According to Flowers, the sponsors, who are finance professors, played an important role for the success of the team. Sloan participated as a chartered financial analyst for the team.
“They are both very knowledgeable in that area so they were able to help us understand why the company’s trends were happening and what a person who does this for a living would expect,” Flowers said.
The sponsors also selected the members who would make up the team. Pinch said they could not have chosen a better team.
“The sponsors really strategically picked the students on this team who have knowledge of the business field and are very well-rounded,” Pinch said.
Menkin said he also realized how strong the team was and how much he learned by working with everyone.
“Figuring out the personalities and the team dynamic of the different people has a huge part in the progress that you make,” Menkin said. “This experience will help me wherever I go after college.”
The finance team will compete against 47 teams in the regional competition in Canada after Spring Break.
