Tobin Students Earn 2nd Place at the Alpha Seekers Invitational

Students from the Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University made a standout showing at the Alpha Seekers Invitational, earning second place in the CFA-style equity research competition hosted by Pace University. Held on November 8, 2025, the event brought together teams from Pace University, St. John’s University, Rutgers University, Auburn University, and Trinity College. The St. John’s team—Vincent Luscher, Ava Weege, Kyle Wo, and Ezgi Yasar—stood out to the judges thanks to their strong analysis and clear understanding of equity valuation. 

The students advanced through the preliminary round with a compelling pitch centered on Sphere (SPHR), building a detailed investment thesis supported by fundamental analysis, comparative ratios, and an intrinsic valuation through a discounted cash flow model. Their strong showing earned them a place in the Final Showdown, where they presented to a panel of judges representing J.P. Morgan, Bloomberg, Egan-Jones,Spear Ventures, 2nd GenPartners, Cooley LLP, and Vanguard. St. John’s own Professor André de Souza also served as a guest judge for this year’s Invitational. 

Team member Ezgi Yasar described the structure of the competition and the depth of analysis required to advance: 

“We first pitched our stock idea to judges in 10-minute sessions, and after advancing to the final round, presented to the full panel. Our pitch included an in-depth company background, fundamental analysis, relative valuation using key ratios, and an intrinsic valuation through a detailed DCF model to forecast the stock’s upside potential.” 

Reflecting on the competition as a whole, Vincent Luscher highlighted his main takeaway. 

“The biggest lesson was learning how to stand by our ideas; checking our numbers, fixing weak spots, and explaining our pitch clearly even when scrutinized. It showed us that strong analysis and confidence go hand in hand." 

The Alpha Seekers Invitational challenges undergraduate students to evaluate small- to mid-cap companies and deliver persuasive stock recommendations under real market conditions. With teams representing multiple states and a judging panel composed of seasoned industry professionals, the event gives students hands-on experience, live feedback, and valuable networking opportunities. 

The Tobin College of Business extends its warm congratulations to Ava, Ezgi, Kyle, and Vincent for their outstanding performance. Their success highlights the strength of Tobin’s finance curriculum and its emphasis on experiential learning, teamwork, and the practical application of classroom concepts to real-world challenges.