Management Economics students win 17th CFA Institute Research Challenge

Students from Ateneo de Manila University showcased their financial acumen by winning the 17th Local Finals of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge, held virtually on 21 February 2025.

Team Zeus Investment Research is composed of talented students, including Management Economics (ME) seniors Lance Mackenzie S Go (Team Captain) and Francine Elisha C Manzana. They were joined by Applied Mathematics major in Mathematical Finance masteral student Albert Matthew C Alejo, Applied Mathematics major in Mathematical Finance senior Frances Jojielyn S. Espiritu, and Management Engineering senior Jerica Charity A Ruiz.

With strong support from the Finance and Accounting Department, the team was mentored by Beatrice Marie D. Chan (BS ME ’23), serving as their faculty adviser, alongside Alfonso Miguel Sevidal (BS ME ’17). Jose Enrique F. Fausto (BS ME ’15) from IFE Management Advisers also provided mentorship.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a global investment research competition that provides students with practical experience in financial analysis and professional mentoring. This year’s local competition tasked participants with preparing an initiation report on the stock of Citicore Energy REIT Corporation (CREIT PM).

Out of 26 participating teams nationwide, six teams advanced to the Local Finals following the evaluation of their written reports. These finalists then presented their findings in a ten-minute presentation before a distinguished panel of judges, followed by a rigorous 15-minute question-and-answer session.

The judging panel included experts from the financial industry, such as Security Bank Vice President and Head of Equities Basil Jason Go, CFA; ATRAM Group Portfolio Manager and Head of Equities Research Donil Ferdinand Jamil; Philippine Stock Exchange Business Development Department Head Connie Lacanilao; and PwC Philippines Deals and Corporate Finance Partner Darwin Saribay, CFA.

Team Zeus emerged victorious, outperforming top competitors from De La Salle University, the University of the Philippines Diliman, the University of San Carlos, and the University of Santo Tomas. Their triumph earned them a cash prize of Php 100,000 and the honor of representing CFA Society Philippines in the Asia Pacific Sub-Regional round this March.

This latest victory underscores the excellence of Ateneo’s Management Economics students in finance and investment research. Their leadership played a key role in securing Ateneo’s tenth CFA IRC Philippine Local Finals title—an impressive feat that includes nine championships in the last 11 years. Ateneo has also historically performed well on the international stage, having won the Asia Pacific Regional Championship in 2015, 2016, and 2019, and clinching the Global Championship in 2019.

The 17th Local Finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge was made possible by the event’s sponsors: Security Bank, CTS Global, Metrobank, BDO Unibank, FTI Consulting, and PwC Philippines.