CFA Society Chicago Announces University Competition featuring Mead Johnson

CHICAGO - Oct. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- Chicago – CFA Society Chicago announced the eight Illinois universities and business schools competing in the local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Teams of three to five students representing each school will focus their equity research on Mead Johnson, a global leader in pediatric nutrition. The company develops, manufactures, markets and distributes more than 70 products in over 50 countries worldwide. The Mead Johnson name has been associated with science-based pediatric nutrition products for over 100 years. The company's "Enfa" family of brands, including Enfamil® infant formula, is the world's leading brand franchise in pediatric nutrition.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst and are tested on their ability to value a stock, write an initiation-of-coverage report, and present their recommendations. The global competition, which runs through April 2016, is expected to attract 4,000 students and 865 universities in nearly 70 countries.

CFA Society Chicago is pleased to announce the eight universities that will compete on February 5, 2016, in Chicago for the local Research Challenge title:

Benedictine University

DePaul University

Illinois Institute of Technology

Loyola University Chicago

Valparaiso University

Saint Xavier University

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The program spans nearly an entire academic semester, and consists of the following components:

·         -  Analysis of a publicly-traded company

·         -  Mentoring by a professional research analyst

·         -  Writing a research report

·         -  Presentation of research to a panel of experts

·         -  Advancement to the CFA Institute Research Challenge Global Finale

Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Larry Lonis, CFA said, “The annual CFA Research Challenge enables undergraduate and graduate students at universities around the world to participate in an equity research analysis of a publicly traded company. The utilization of both financial analysis and equity valuation skills to value a company, write a report, and make a buy, hold, or sell recommendation on a security is fundamental to the efficiency of capital markets on a global basis.  This process not only engages bright university students, but also provides connectivity between the university faculty community and investment management professionals who participate as mentors for each university sponsored team. The global nature of the competition challenges students in terms of economic, industry and company analysis, written report writing skills, and an oral defense of their investment thesis and rationale.  Security analysis as a practice is instrumental in the functioning of informationally efficient securities markets.  The CFA Research Challenge provides students with the opportunity to learn this discipline and its importance to global capital markets.”

The first, second and third place teams will receive various prizes sponsored by CFA Society Chicago with the local winning team advancing to the regional competition being held in Chicago the week of April 11, 2016.  Regional winners will then vie for the global title in Chicago the same week.

This year’s local Research Challenge is hosted by CFA Society Chicago.

CFA Institute Research Challenge
Additional information on the Research Challenge and its participants can be found on the CFA Institute website and CFA Society Chicago website.

CFA Society Chicago

CFA Society Chicago aims to lead the investment profession by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence; to shape an investment industry that serves the greater good; and to serve as the premier local resource for Chartered Financial Analyst designees, candidates, other investment professionals and our communities. Founded in 1925, CFA Society Chicago has more than 4,200 members and is the world's oldest investment analysts' society.

CFA Institute

CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals, administers the CFA, CIPM and Claritas curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has over 129,000 members in 145 countries and territories, including more than 123,000 CFA charterholders and 146 member societies. Please visit www.cfainstitute.org for additional information.