The SMIFC 2024 conference competition features two distinct projects:

Project 1: 2024 SMIFC Poster Session

Date and Venue: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 3:40 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency McCormick, first floor, Lincoln Park Room

Overview:

• The poster session allows SMIFC teams to showcase their SMIF performance during 2023.
• Teams will be judged on their fund's performance, visual presentation, and engagement with judges.

Participation:

• Teams must email Tarek Zaher (Tarek.zaher@indstate.edu) by September 25, 2024.
• Submit a spreadsheet of the fund's time-weighted rate of return (TWRR) and 12 monthly statements of the fund from the brokerage house that hosts the fund.
• Teams can use 48 x 36-inch tri-fold boards for posters. Bring the posters with you.

Evaluation:

• Sharpe Ratio Performance (30%): Teams ranked by risk-adjusted return.
• Visual Presentation (35%): Assessed on creativity and clarity.
• Presentation to Judges (35%): Engagement and ability to explain poster content.

Poster Content:

• Highlight SMIF performance, history, investment policy, strategies, and student roles.

Awards:

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $800
• Third Place: $700

Project 2: Analyzing the Performance of Nvidia (Ticker: NVDA)

2024 Paper Presentations

Date and Venue: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 3:40 pm – 5:30 pm
Hyatt Regency McCormick, first floor, Grant Park Room

Overview:

• Teams analyze Nvidia’s financial performance using various data sources and financial tools.
• Up to two teams (2-3 students each) from each school can participate.

Data Sources:

• Macroeconomic and Industry Data: Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Board, World Bank, IMF, PWC, Deloitte.
• Company-Specific Data: EDGAR, Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, Nvidia’s website, Morningstar, Bloomberg, and Mergent online.

Analysis Questions:

1. Business Niches (10%): Identify Nvidia’s unique business areas.
2. Diversification (15%): Assess Nvidia’s exposure to economic, financial, and political changes.
3. Stock Performance (15%): Compare Nvidia’s stock performance to market indices and peers over the past five years.
4. Financial Strengths and Weaknesses (30%): Use financial ratios and other statistics to identify Nvidia’s strengths and weaknesses.
5. Intrinsic Value (30%): Determine if Nvidia’s stock is overvalued or undervalued and
6. provide investment recommendations.

Participation:

• Teams must email Tarek Zaher (Tarek.zaher@indstate.edu) by September 25, 2024.
• Students or teams who plan to participate in NVIDIA analysis should be expected to answer all the questions raised in the narrative of the project and submit the answers in the form of 8-15 pages report or paper. Then please send me two copies of the completed project (one copy without names or affiliation) to tarek.zaher@indstate.edu by 5:00 p.m. September 25, 2024.

Awards:

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $800
• Third Place: $700