NOTICE: This semester (Spring 2026) IPO Analyst will only be accepting freshmen. Open to all majors.

Mission

Our primary objective is to teach you how to invest intelligently and develop you as a future professional. Leveraging your involvement in IPO can be highly beneficial moving forward, as not only does the organization offer skills that are applicable during internship and full-time job recruitment, but a more clearly-defined path to acceptance into the Illinois Investment Management Academy. This highly-selective multi-year program within the Gies College of Business enables students to manage an equity portfolio worth $1.6 million, offering real-world investment management experience.

Analyst

Weekly lessons involving investment philosophy, screening for stocks, financial statement analysis, modeling, professional development, and pitch skills. The conclusion of the semester is a stock pitch competition, in which you will present to your fellow analysts as well as the executive board.

Associate

Focused on preparation for the Investment Management Academy, involving technical and behavioral preparation for the interview process that can also be used in internship recruitment. Former analysts eligible for IMA are invited to apply upon completion of their analyst program.

Recommended Reading

If you wish to learn on your own, these are a few resources that will teach you everything you need to know. A large portion of our curriculum draws inspiration from the teachings of these greats. We would go as far as to say: if you read and understand these concepts, you won’t need IPO.

Nomad Letters

Buffett Shareholder Letters

Value Investors Club