Each winter, finance students from across the country — and even some from outside the country — travel to Athens to pitch their top stock picks to a panel of industry professionals and peers.  

Now in its 12th year, the University of Georgia Stock Pitch Competition, organized by the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) and the Terry College Department of Finance, continues to grow as an essential bridge between top-tier students and future employers. 

This year, a record 131 teams applied, with 20 invited from 18 schools, including the first European team: the London School of Economics, which pitched AutoZone 

SMIF president Dylan Van Saun, who graduates in May with degrees in finance and management information systems, and SMIF vice president Lucy Fuselier, who graduates in May with a finance degree and certificate in personal and organizational leadership, worked for more than six months to organize the competition. 

The contest gathers investment professionals to judge student teams pitching stocks they believe will be future good buys. Most teams are comprised of finance majors or students involved with their business school’s investment funds and competed in stock pitch competitions before. 

It’s one of the few times that finance majors from different schools get together, compare notes, and build their networks, Fuselier said.  

“Everyone’s excited to be here, and it’s fun to hear about the different funds that other schools run, and the similarities and differences they have,” Fuselier said. “We’re all studying the same things and going into similar careers, so we’re forming connections that we’ll have long after the competition is over.”  

In addition to shepherding student teams to Athens, SMIF was responsible for finding event sponsors and judges. The group secured a record amount of financial support from sponsors, including Invesco, Peachtree Group, BNY Pershing, Fulcrum Equity Partners, Capital Investment Advisors, PIMCO, Truist, and CFA Society Atlanta. 

“We have gotten the chance to network with a lot of Terry alumni who want to give back, either through their time as a judge or as a sponsor of the competition,” Fuselier said. “It’s been great to see so many alumni back on campus to support this.”  

At this year’s contest, the University of Alabama team won first place and $3,000, pitching textbook publisher McGraw-Hill’s stock. It argued the company is increasing market share by including digital textbook packages with homework tasks and tests that integrate into classroom management software.  

The team from Western University, in Ontario, Canada, took second place for pitching HR Block. One of two teams from Princeton University finished third for its pitch of Zeta — a multifaceted marketing software platform that survived a data harvesting scandal and is poised for a rebound.  

In addition to the finalists, this year’s contest included teams from Auburn University, Brown University, University of California-Berkeley, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Florida, Georgetown University, University of Georgia, the London School of Economics, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Virginia.