JetBlue Serves as Case Study to New York Students in Investment Research Test

The New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) has chosen JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) as the subject of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, its yearly academic contest open to local business and finance students.

NYSSA, the New York-area representative to the CFA Institute, will host a presentation by Kevin Crissey and Rob Mitchell, who head investor relations at Queens-headquartered JetBlue, for Research Challenge participants on Friday, November 7. 

A consistently top-rated airline, JetBlue recently announced management changes and plans to fine-tune its traditional business model as a low-cost carrier—developments that NYSSA Executive Director Karen Sterling said brought heightened relevance to the Research Challenge. 

“JetBlue has historically outperformed other mid-caps and is currently beating the S&P 500, while competing against larger peers in a volatile industry,” said Sterling. “We are confident that in JetBlue we have zeroed in on a dynamic stock for the CFA Institute Research Challenge.”
 
Held at the start of the school year, the Research Challenge was launched to promote cutting-edge and ethical equity research to university students.  Sponsored globally by the CFA Institute, the Research Challenge is available to colleges and business schools regionally through representatives like NYSSA.   

NYSSA kicked off the Research Challenge on Friday, October 24, securing applications from 21 academic institutions in the New York metropolitan area.  The contest is scheduled to extend through April 2015 and attract more than 3,300 students and 775 universities in 60 countries.  

CFA Institute will choose the winning report in a Global Finale held in Atlanta.  In the previous Research Challenge, Fordham University was named New York winner for its report on Colgate-Palmolive.  

About NYSSA

Founded in 1937 by pioneering value investor Benjamin Graham, the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) is a leading forum for the investment community and a nonprofit provider of career development and professional education.  

NYSSA is committed to promoting fiduciary accountability in finance.  With a membership totaling more than 9,000, NYSSA is the largest U.S. affiliate of the CFA Institute, a global association overseeing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.

Visit www.nyssa.org for more information.
###