UW-Whitewater Wins 2026 Local Finals of CFA Research Challenge
March 17, 2026
Written by: Gracie Weston
Students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (CoBE) earned both first and second place at the 2026 local finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Members of the UW-Whitewater winning team will advance to the sub-regional round of the global competition.
The first-place team consisted of Alexander Dobbs, Luke Matte, Alex Metko, and Roman Pierringer, all senior finance majors. The team was supported by faculty advisor Neal Dihora, director of the Applied Investment Program (AIP), and industry mentor Greg Schroeder.
The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. Teams research and analyze a publicly traded company, produce a comprehensive equity research report, and present their investment recommendations to a panel of industry professionals.
“The experience was both transformative and an opportunity to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of the investment industry,” said team member Luke Matte.
The competition process, which runs from November through March, requires students to conduct in-depth financial analysis while collaborating closely to develop their research report and final presentation. Teams present their findings to professional investors, where they are evaluated on analytical rigor, presentation quality, and the strength of their investment recommendations.
“The program [UW-Whitewater AIP] has long been a participant in the CFA Research
Challenge,” said Dihora. “My favorite part of serving as an advisor is seeing the growth from student to professional throughout the process. Each team member plays a critical role, and success requires a high level of performance in both analysis and communication.”
Dihora also emphasized the significance of this year’s results. “Each team inevitably works into the early morning hours to meet deadlines. Taking both first and second place reflects the hard work and dedication these students put into the competition. I am incredibly proud of both teams.”
This achievement highlights UW-Whitewater’s continued commitment to experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for careers in finance and investment management. Programs such as the Applied Investment Program allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world financial analysis and professional presentations.
About the Applied Investment Program at UW-Whitewater:
UW-Whitewater’s Applied Investment Program (AIP) gives students the opportunity to gain real-world investment experience by managing an investment portfolio worth more than $1 million. AIP offers training on Bloomberg terminals, the most dominant investment platform used by investment professionals.
Students in the AIP will develop analytical skills and critical thinking while learning to be a professional. They’ll have the opportunity to learn how to write professional quality reports, how to present their ideas effectively, and how to function in a professional environment.
More about the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater CoBE:
Wisconsin’s largest business college, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, offers a rich breadth of co-curricular activities to enhance student development and learning outcomes. CoBE is in the top 1% of the world’s business schools, earning both AACSB and AACSB Accounting Accreditation (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). For more information on the College of Business and Economics, visit uww.edu/cobe or email cobe@uww.edu.
Photos
Above: Members of UW-Whitewater’s first-place team pose for a group photo ahead of the CFA Research Challenge local finals in Milwaukee, WI.
