The members of winning team, Qatar University, with the officials.
Qatar’s young minds, representing three top universities, demonstrated their stock picking skills at a live pitch competition Tuesday. The event, adjudged by Qatar’s top asset managers and financial analysts, was held as part of the second edition of the local CFA Institute Research Challenge. It is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis.
The finale was attended by Rashid Bin Ali Al Mansoori, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Stock Exchange and other dignitaries and industry professionals.
The participating teams included AFG University of Aberdeen in Qatar, Northumbria University Qatar Finance and Business Academy and Qatar University. Each team was tasked to write an equity research report on the subject company i.e. Qatar National Bank with an investment recommendation. At the finale, the teams presented their equity research to an independent panel of judges from the financial sector in Qatar.
While analysing the stock, the students demonstrated their understanding of the problem/scenario, plotting out the question and knowing where to look for answers. The competition tasked the teams with developing investment thesis and pitching the merits of investments in the specific stock.
Student team from Qatar University walked away with the first prize. The team consisted of Asmma Al-Maadid, Amira Darwish, Nina Salim and Vineeta Devnani. The winner will now represent Qatar at the regional competition of the CFA Institute Research Challenge on April 10 and April 11 in Zurich, Switzerland and potentially and potentially enter the global finale in United States. .
Rashid bin Ali Al Mansoori, CEO of Qatar Stock Exchange, said, “I am proud to see students from Universities in Qatar and professionals from local institutions come together to drive the nation’s financial sector. This reflects upon Qatar’s future steps toward building a sound and resilient financial sector that will promote sustainable economic growth. Our vision is driven by developing human capital - with a young population and a strong economy, I am confident we will continue to maintain growth. CFA Doha Society is playing a pivotal role by providing mentors to Qatar’s youth who are in turn not only representing Qatar locally but they are taking their knowledge and representing the country on regional and hopefully global levels too.”
“The students impressed all the judges with the strength of their arguments and polished delivery,” commented Akber Khan, (Senior Director-Asset Management, Al Rayan Investment), one of the judging panel members.
“The in-depth analysis and valuation conducted by the student teams and in particular the winning team from Qatar University was very impressive. Conducting equity research on any stock is not easy, let alone on a bank the size of QNB. The students handled tough questions from seasoned investment professionals, showing they have the talent and ability to leave a mark at the global stage”, Umair Siddique, President, CFA Society Doha, told The Peninsula.
The winning team from Qatar University said: “The CFA Research Challenge was a wonderful learning opportunity as it provided us an understanding of investments as well as hands-on experience of equity research. The CFA Society Doha did a great job in supporting us and organizing this amazing competition. We learned new skills, gained knowledge and increased our access and network to industry professionals. We are very excited and look forward to doing well at the regional competition in Switzerland.”
