Economics DepartmentDFE's competitions allow Duke students to the learn about the range of roles in the financial markets through hands-on, team-driven experiences. We partner with financial firms and/or alumni, creating opportunities for students to receive feedback on their work from finance professionals. All Duke sophomores, regardless of major, are eligible to participate.
Duke undergraduates are invited to join the DFE email list to receive information about DFE competitions and activities, including notifications about competition guidelines and registration.
In this BlackRock-sponsored competition, students in teams of three or four step into the role of portfolio managers for an asset management firm that offers a range of investment funds for many different types of individuals and institutions. As portfolio managers for one particular "class" of funds, each team is responsible for determining the allocation of different assets within its portfolio: that is, what percentage of the overall value of the fund is invested in each asset. The goal is to meet or exceed a target rate of return goal, ideally with as low volatility (standard deviation of returns) as possible.
Teams participating in the competition will be provided extensive guidelines, as well as access to the BlackRock Aladdin Factor Workbench platform, to facilitate the asset allocation process. Teams will be expected to create a presentation that summarizes their asset allocation decisions. The teams with the top presentations will be invited to present to a panel of BlackRock representatives. All Duke sophomores are invited to participate.
Fall 2024 Winners
Best Overall: Henri Gave, Claire Ryu, MacCoy Weil, Maggie Yang
Runners Up: Raiyan Choudhury, Ananya Das, Zachary Kam, Aiden Tauro
Honorable Mention: Jack Hirsh, Kevin Sun, Keerthana Venkatesh, Nolan Zeng
In the fall semester, DFE invites sophomores of all majors to participate in a corporate valuation competition. In teams of three or four, students will use various methodologies to value a hypothetical corporation that is evaluating offers for both strategic and financial purchase. Extensive guidelines will be provided.
Participating in this competition enhances students' understanding of how investment banks value corporations as part of deal activity such as mergers, acquisitions, and LBOs. It is valuable for students interested in all roles in the financial markets. The top teams present to a panel of alumni finance professionals.
Fall 2024 Winners
Best Overall: Rithik Duvva, Jack Hirsh, Reed Paltrow, Kevin Sun
Second Place: Chloe Bernstein, Blaise Egeth, Ella Gruenstein, Sophia Strahan
Third Place: Luke Brandon, Matthew Colen, Catherine Ramich, Mia Zaslow
Honorable Mention: Justin Cockerham, Parker Miles, Zach Robers, Ryan Rubin
The objective of this Goldman Sachs-sponsored competition is for students to learn how to create and justify a trade idea on behalf of a hedge fund. Students work in self-selected teams of three or four to propose a unique trade (buying and/or short-selling specific securities) and create a presentation with an explanation of the trade thesis. The top teams are invited to present their trade idea to a panel of Goldman Sachs investment professionals. Duke sophomores from all majors are invited to participate.
The registration period for the Fall 2024 Goldman Sachs Trade Pitch Competition has passed.