The University of Navarra reaches the podium in the national final of the CFA Institute Research Challenge

In a competition marked by intense competition, the team from the School of Science and Business at the University of Navarra took second place in the Spanish finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, an competition financial analysis competition for college students.

The competition, which featured 17 teams from 10 universities and business schools, culminated in a final round held at the Madrid Stock Exchange Palace.

In the last three editions of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, the University team has managed to climb onto the podium among the top five teams nationwide. Last year marked a milestone when they were awarded first place in the national competition.

In this edition, the School team, made up of final-year students from Diploma Business Administration & Finance and Accounting program—Andrea Bordera, Daniela Picazo, Tomás Cabrera, Ferran Casanova, and Íñigo Álvarez—managed to rank among the top five in the country after passing a demanding selection process. Finally, it took second place on the podium in a high-level final alongside IE and CUNEF, among the three best teams.

The competition consisted of two phases. Between October and January, students prepared a report onLaboratorios Rovi, the Spanish pharmaceutical business on the Madrid Stock Exchange. They conducted a evaluation and issued a buy or sell recommendation based on public information.

After passing the first phase, the team defended their thesis before a jury of experts in a presentation , followed by a round of highly technical questions.

The excellent result the fruit of preparation that began months ago in the classroom. The team was formed through theResearch Challenge subject in the third year of degree program. During the process, they had the fundamental support of their mentor professor, Breogan Vazquez, whose guide the essay, evaluation , and constant feedback was decisive in reaching the final.

"We held weekly meetings to get detailed feedback and not leave everything to the last minute; the mentor role mentor very important," Tomás emphasizes.

Internal organization was also a distinguishing factor. The team divided the work areas while maintaining constant coordination and a comprehensive understanding of the report: "I think we were a team that coordinated very well; there was no problem organizing ourselves," says Iñigo about the relationship between the team and the mentor.

With this second-place finish, the School of Science and Business at the University of Navarra reaffirms its leadership position in the field of finance in Spain, competing on par with institutions such as CUNEF, IE Business School, and Pompeu Fabra University. Students have described the experience as exceptional, noting that it allowed them to apply their theoretical knowledge of evaluation to a real-world professional setting.