Demonstrating Investment Skills on the Competition Stage

Equity team, first place

Yanis Giavridis ’25

I decided to participate in this competition because I heard that it has the highest caliber among all U.S. university stock pitch competitions. I knew it would be a great opportunity to connect with like-minded students from other top universities. Besides, I’ve always wanted to explore Chicago, so it was a great opportunity to cycle along the Lake Michigan shoreline, explore the Art Institute of Chicago (I can highly recommend it!), and try the Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

My team and I pitched the idea of investing in a company called Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. ($ECO). The company owns and operates a fleet of crude oil tankers. The logic behind our pitch is that we see very strong supply-demand fundamentals in the industry driven by structural underinvestment, and a crowding-out effect driven by non-oil tanker demand. We believe that these circumstances will drive up the prices that oil tankers can charge over the next two or three years.

We found that $ECO has a strong historical track record of outstanding capital allocation and operational excellence. Additionally, the relative youth of the company’s fleet means that $ECO is more fuel efficient than competitors, giving the company a relatively low break-even level that should protect it from adverse price developments.

My favorite part of the event was chatting with other students over food and drinks, exchanging thoughts about our pitch decks, and getting inspiration for other investment ideas. The feedback from the jury of professional investors was also extremely helpful, and really showed us how they look at investment ideas and what questions are part of their due diligence repertoire. Even though we won the competition, it was clear that there were still several angles from which our pitch could be scrutinized further.

Leo Li ’26

Winning first place with a pitch on $ECO in the oil tanker industry was an incredible experience.

My team and I adopted a dual-layered approach, leveraging both a top-down analysis of global supply demand structures and a bottom-up deep dive into company fundamentals. This integrated strategy allowed us to capture macroeconomic forces—such as shifting oil supply dynamics—while also pinpointing $ECO’s unique operational efficiencies and competitive edges.

I owe much of this success to my coursework under Professor Kai Hao at SOM, whose course Basics of Economics provided a strong framework for assessing the interplay between macroeconomic drivers and industry-specific factors.

This experience not only sharpened my research abilities and presentation skills but also reinforced the value of blending strategic foresight with granular financial scrutiny—an approach I intend to carry forward in my future endeavors.

Jiahao Zhang ’25

For me, this competition was not just about achieving my career goals or getting to compete with other MBA students. What was more meaningful was the bonding between me and my SOM teammates. The day after the competition was my birthday. To celebrate, Yanis and I biked eight miles along the lake from Booth to downtown Chicago. That was a moment I will never forget.

Credit team, second place

Eric Zhu ’25

Participating in the competition through the Investment Management Club at SOM was an incredibly enriching experience, and my first exposure to credit research. Collaborating with like-minded peers from diverse professional backgrounds expanded my understanding of various industries and asset classes, enhancing my journey in the Asset Management program. Our team pitched the bond offering of a Peruvian mining company that had recently diversified into broader commodity products, reducing its risk profile and aligning its financials with industry peers.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was hearing from seasoned industry veterans and learning from their career experiences. Additionally, receiving actionable feedback from the judges provided valuable insights and a real-world perspective on our pitch. Overall, this experience deepened my practical understanding of credit research and asset management while reinforcing the collaborative and applied learning principles that define my education at SOM.

Ethan Weinstein ’25

I wanted to participate in this competition because it sounded like a great way to learn about fundamental research, practice structuring a compelling investment thesis, and present to an audience of professionals. My team pitched a corporate bond for a Peruvian mining company. Our thesis was based on both improving country conditions, which could lead to price appreciation through lower country risk, and strong company fundamentals with expanding product diversification and robust financial health. We argued that the security was mispriced, as it was trading in line with risky, less financially stable companies even though it was more comparable to large, stable organizations.

I especially enjoyed the networking session toward the end of the event, during which I was able to talk with competition judges and senior professionals at firms in the area. Through these conversations, I was able to get feedback on our presentation, learn more about practical work centered around our type of investment, and hear about different people’s experiences. I made great connections and gained valuable insights that helped further my understanding of the industry.

This article was updated on February 7 to reflect the correct number of winning team members.