Meeting/Event Information

CFA Society Dayton is pleased to announce that our education chair, Jonah Sandler is coordinating participation by Dayton Financial Analyst students in this year's Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition. This competition provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their investment ideas and knowledge of the financial markets. Each team of 2-4 students will assemble a slide deck to pitch a long or short equity position with a 3-12 month horizon. Please join us is supporting Dayton students as our April event. Registration is not necessary.

2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
Lead Sponsor & Location
Bahl & Gaynor
Cincinnati, OH
Host Society
CFA Society Cincinnati

Contributing Sponsor
PGIM
Important Information
 Participating Societies: CFA Society Columbus, CFA Society Cincinnati, CFA Society Dayton, CFA Society
Cleveland, and CFA Society Louisville

 Competitor Limitation: 18 student participants
 Per CFA Society Competitor Limitation: 3 student participants (assuming CFA Society
Dayton joins). The host city will be permitted to invite 6 students.
 Selection: Each CFA Society will determine how their students are selected to
participate.
 Resume: All student-entrants must submit participates must submit a resume by
March 17th to [email protected].
Awards
First place: $2,000
Second place: 1,000
Third & Fourth places: 500
TOTAL $4,000
2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition
Agenda
8 AM – 9 AM Registration, breakfast and opening remarks
9 AM – 11:30 AM
1
st Round: 6 students per judging team of 3 (2- 2 1.2 hours). For a
field of 18 there will be 3 judging teams.
Waiting Area Activity
11:30 AM – 1 PM
Lunch
Industry Panel
Announcement of finalists
1 PM – 3 PM
Final Round: Top 2 teams from each Judging Team advances to
Finals (total of 6); 3 minute “pitch” with 10-minute Q&A
3:30 PM – 5 PM
Wrap Up Ceremony
Happy Hour
Overall
 Limited to 18 student participants The Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition final will
consist of 2 rounds.
Participants may select any long, public equity to pitch, US or non-US, of any market
capitalization. Consider this your ‘elevator pitch’ – you want to convince a portfolio manager that
he/ she should consider doing deeper analysis for inclusion in the portfolio. The pitch shouldn’t
cover everything you know! It should cover key, compelling highlights while acknowledging
risks.
What does that mean? For example, rather than rattling off financial metrics, say what the
metrics mean. Is that the stock is attractively valued relative to peers? Does it have
commanding market share or is it positioned to take share? Is it exhibiting an accelerating profit
cycle? What are its competitive advantages? Have the stats ready for Q&A and instead use
your pitch time to be as concise and compelling as possible.
Printed materials, if used, should not be a stand-in for full analysis. Materials should highlight
key, compelling considerations. They should be concise, easy to absorb quickly, and
convincingly direct a reader’s eye. (If you are including tables with data in tiny font, you are
heading in the wrong direction). Remember, you want the judges to look at and listen to you,
not wading through data Additional printed material is not required. However, finalists can bring
2-5 pages printed materials to share with judges during the pitch. The materials may not be
provided ahead of time. Finalists must print and bring their own materials.
2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition
1at Round
● The pitch may be no more than 2 minutes. The pitch is then followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
● Each participant will pitch before a panel of three judges. There will be a timekeeper.
Finals
● From round one, six participants will advance to the Finals.
● The pitch may be no more than 3 minutes. The pitch is then followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
● There will be a live audience.
● Each finalist will pitch before a panel of three judges. There will be a timekeeper.
● Finalists must pitch the same stock they pitched in round one.
Judging Rubrick
The following matrix will be used to judge all participants’ pitches in round one and round two.
Category Criteria Points
Overall pitch quality
and structure
● Clear, concise, and persuasive delivery within the
2-minute limit
● Logical flow: thesis, valuation, catalysts, and risk
identification
● Effective use of visuals (if applicable)
10
Investment thesis
presented in pitch
● Clear and compelling “buy” recommendation.
● Well-defined and differentiated thesis
● Strategic rationale supported by compelling
evidence
10
Conviction and
persuasiveness or
pitch and Q&A
● Exhibits passion and belief in recommendation.
● Strong presence and ability to persuade a skeptical
audience.
● Professional demeanor
10
Handling of Q&A ● Demonstrates depth and quality of research and
due diligence.
● Demonstrates understanding of industry and
competitive landscape.
● Responds confidently and thoughtfully.
● Acknowledges uncertainty where appropriate
20
2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition
PLANNING TIMELINE
DATE ITEM CFA
Society
12-17-2025 Steering Committee Assignments:
Pre-Event Day Team
- Facebook page (due 1/14/26)
- Information Memo (due 1/14/26)
- Waiting Area Activity
- Contributing Sponsors Management
- Recruitment
-
Louisville
Cleveland
Event Day Team
- Judge & Timekeeper recruitment & training
- Opening Speaker recruitment
- Lunch Panel recruitment.
- Lead Sponsor management.
- Event Logistics coordinator including
Food procurement, Speakers, waiting area activity,
Lunch Panel & the SPC Event which also includes
Judge & Timekeeper management.
Cincinnati
Columbus
Dayton
01-14-2026
WED 4 PM
Steering Committee Meeting:
Release of Facebook page & Information Memo to
Participating Societies to launch recruitment for 26SPC
-
02-18-2026 Steering Committee Meeting:
- Status Reports from Teams
-
03-18-2026 Steering Committee Meeting:
- Status Reports from Teams
-
04-03-2026 Steering Committee Meeting:
Deadline for Society submissions of SPC entrants
- Status Reports from Teams
-
04-10-2026 Steering Committee Meeting:
- Final Status Reports
-
2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition
04-17-2026 2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition:
- 18 Student Competitors
- 12Judges (R1: 3 sets of 3; Finals 3 new judges)
- 3 Timekeepers
- 5 – 10 Event Day Volunteers
- Opening Speaker
- Lunch Industry Panelist
- Waiting Area Activity
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Happy Hour
- Awards & Prize Money
-
2026 Regional CFA Stock Pitch Competition