2026 Research Challenge - Local Finals

Learn more about the Research Challenge here

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 work in teams to research and analyze a publicly traded company and then write a research report on their assigned company with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation. 

Each Research Challenge season leverages the efforts of over 150+ CFA member societies, 3,500+ member volunteers, and more than 5,000 students from over 1,000 universities.     

The Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies, and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for a real-world competition.  Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standards of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

2025-2026 Participating Universities:

• Bethel University
• College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
• Concordia College
• Minnesota State University - Mankato
• North Dakota State University
• South Dakota State University
• St Cloud State University
• University of Minnesota Duluth
• University of MN Twin Cities
• University of North Dakota
• University of Wisconsin - River Falls