Next Stop: Global Finals in Warsaw

The research team at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management has done it once again. Following their victories in Germany and at several regional competitions in Europe, the team has won the EMEA (short for “Europe, Middle East, Africa”) finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, alongside Qatar University. Together, Luca Barboni (MSc 2025), Rong Chen (MSc 2024), Moritz Habetha (BSc 2025), Carl Köster (BSc 2022; MSc 2024), and Aaron Wrenger (BSc 2024) will now go on to compete at the international finals in Warsaw on May 16, 2024. 

“Having the opportunity to participate in the global finals of such a renowned competition highlights our team’s collaborative spirit and diverse expertise,” said the winning team. “It has been enriching to apply what we have learned at WHU from Professor Schaub and Patrick Nass. Our journey toward the global finals offered significant personal and professional development.”

The team, coached by Professor Schaub (Chair of Household Finance at WHU), has been lauded for its financial analysis and company valuation of Lufthansa. “WHU’s team has delivered great performances over five rounds since the competition started last fall. They have constantly improved their analysis and presentation and have continuously grown as a team. It has been a very exciting journey so far, from which the students will certainly take away a lot of valuable experiences,” said Professor Schaub of the team’s noticeable development.

And now, the team is looking forward to taking on the competition in Warsaw on May 16. At the start of the challenge, more than 1,000 universities worldwide duked it out in several regional competitions in their march toward finals.

WHU wishes its team the best of luck for the final round!

CFA Institute Research Challenge

This annual collegiate competition, first held in New York in 2002, brings the next generation of financial experts from all over the world together with experienced mentors, including professors and professionals active in the investment sector. Participating teams perform an analysis of a listed company and draft a report outlining their recommendation. Since 2010, the CFA Society Germany is organizing the Research Challenge in Germany. Last year’s competition saw over 6,300 participating students from 1,100 universities based in 100 different countries.

CFA Institute & CFA Society Germany e. V.

The CFA Institute is an internationally active non-profit trade organization for the investment sector known as a reputable source of information for all things concerning the capital market. In addition to advocating ethical and professional standards for the financial industry, the institute’s primary objective is to provide an environment where the investors’ interests are given priority and where the market’s functionality and economic growth can thrive. Worldwide, the CFA Institute can boast ten offices, 160 local chapters, and nearly 200,000 individual CFA Chartholders across 160 different markets. Since 2000, the CFA Society Germany has represented the organization domestically, and, thanks to its some 2,800 members to date, has become the country’s largest professional association for investors and investment managers.