Investment Academy
OVERVIEW
The Investment Academy
The Investment Academy is USC’s premier investment training program, providing students with the technical and analytical foundation needed to succeed in investing and finance more broadly through weekly lectures.
Led by the Academy Co-Heads, the engaging sessions cover investment philosophy, financial modeling and valuation, qualitative and quantitative company analysis, and presentation development. By the end of the semester, members will be equipped to conduct comprehensive company analyses, build financial models, and translate their findings into compelling investment theses and presentations.
Members who demonstrate strong performance and commitment are fast-tracked to join the Investment Research team.
CURRICULUM
Our Curriculum
Students will develop a strong foundation in long/short investing while learning how passive, value, growth, and technical strategies are applied. They will also examine stocks, indices, market efficiency, and the role expectations play in determining prices.
Students will learn to translate their investment theses and expectations into income statement projections, estimate earnings per share, benchmark their forecasts against consensus, and assess a company’s value based on expected future performance.
Students will learn to assess a company’s relative and intrinsic value using comparable company and discounted cash flow analyses to calculate an implied share price.
Students will learn to think like investors by evaluating market expectations, identifying price-to-value dislocations, and applying contrarian thinking to develop clear, differentiated investment theses.
Students will learn to use financial analysis and productivity tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Capital IQ, and FactSet, to conduct research, build financial models, and develop investment presentations.