Walton Student Success collaborated with Stephens Inc., a privately held financial services firm focused on building long-term relationships and long-term results, to put on the Fall 2021 Stock Pitch Competition.

The stock pitch competition challenges students to prepare and present buy/hold/sell recommendations and vigorously defend them. Students are allotted 5 minutes for their pitch which includes a 5 slide powerpoint and 10 minutes for Q&A. Judged by a panel of Stephens employers, the intense competition is designed to replicate the fast-paced, demanding experience of sell-side and buy-side analysts. Key components of each pitch included: rating (buy or sell), price target (expected stock price one year from today, valuation (price target is justified by a valuation metric or metrics), and an emphasis on what the target market is missing and why.

The Fall 2021 Stock Pitch Competition had a total of 32 students participate. Round one was held virtually on Sept. 3. Of the 32 students, six students — William Cross, David Ator, Andres Balderrama Montano, Logan Estes, Daniel Kuehl, and Andrew Turner — advanced to round two, which took place in Willard J. Walker Hall on Sept. 9. William Cross, a current junior finance major with a minor in Japanese, took home first place. Cross' name will be inscribed on the Stephens Inc. Trophy, and was awarded an Amazon gift card for his outstanding pitch.

A job well done to all those who participated and a special thank you to Stephens Inc. 

Spring 2022 will be when Stephens Inc. hosts their next Stock Pitch Competition. More information to come.