The Rensselaer Finance Club (RFC), in partnership with the Lally School of Management and the Center for Financial Studies, proudly hosted the inaugural Empire State Capital Region Intercollegiate Stock Pitch Competition on Saturday, December 6. The full-day event brought together talented undergraduate teams from across the region for a dynamic, high-intensity experience that blended financial analysis, strategic thinking, and professional presentation skills.
Students representing Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Skidmore College, University at Albany, Siena University, Hudson Valley Community College, and Binghamton University participated in this year’s competition. Working under a 2.5-hour time window, teams selected a real publicly traded company, conducted rapid analysis, developed valuation models, and crafted an investment recommendation to deliver before a panel of industry judges.
Throughout the day, students displayed impressive analytical skills, assessing fundamentals, tracking market trends, and presenting thoughtful, well-structured pitches. The fast-paced structure mirrored the expectations of real-world equity research roles, giving students valuable practice in communicating complex ideas under time pressure.
The Lally School extends its sincere appreciation to this year’s distinguished panel of judges: Professor Brian White of Russell Sage College and TD Bank; Ruben Guerrero, CEO of Webull Brazil and Head of Latin America; David Daglio of TwinFocus; Will Preston, Director of Research at Fenimore Asset Management; Cheryl Wang, Vice President at Goldman Sachs; and Andrew Peters, Managing Director at New York Life. We are especially proud to note that all judges, except Professor White and Will Preston, are RPI alumni who continue to give back to the School through mentorship and industry engagement.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Raffi E. García, Associate Professor of Finance and Accounting at the Lally School of Management, for developing the case materials for this year’s competition. Professor García’s expertise in financial economics, regulation effects, and empirical industrial organization shaped a case that was both realistic and academically rigorous. His thoughtful design challenged teams to analyze real financial data, interpret market dynamics, and build a clear investment thesis within a tight timeframe, greatly enriching the experience for all participants.
Their deep expertise, thoughtful questions, and individualized feedback elevated the learning experience for every team, offering students an invaluable glimpse into real-world investment analysis and decision-making. We are grateful for their time, leadership, and ongoing support of our academic community.
A special congratulations and thank you to the Rensselaer Finance Club, whose students designed the case, coordinated logistics, and brought this regional event to life with remarkable organization. Their leadership reflects Lally’s commitment to experiential learning and to building strong academic-industry connections.
The competition concluded with an impressive showcase of talent from across the region. Binghamton University earned first place, delivering a standout pitch that demonstrated exceptional analytical depth and clear strategic insight. Siena University secured second place, and Skidmore College placed third, rounding out a strong field of finalists whose work reflected the high caliber of preparation seen throughout the day. Congratulations to all participating teams for their hard work, professionalism, and dedication.
The success of this inaugural competition underscores the growing momentum of student-driven finance initiatives across the Capital Region. We look forward to expanding this event in the years ahead and continuing to provide opportunities for students to engage deeply with finance, research, and professional development.
