Challenge the Analysts!

Equity analysts have long been the central hub of market expectations. They follow companies closely, meet management teams, and publish thorough analyses and forecasts. At the same time, there is strong interest in the stock market among the general public, with a large group of private investors who – just like analysts – monitor companies carefully and devote significant time and energy to their investments.

Private investors often account for a substantial share of trading in many stocks, and their expectations are an important force in the market. Many are both dedicated and skilled – in some cases just as knowledgeable as the analysts themselves. But how accurate are private investors compared to the established “experts”? That is exactly what Challenge the Analysts is about.

In the competition, we bring together ten companies with broad analyst coverage – Atlas Copco, Volvo, Telia, Axfood, and several other favourites. The question is simple: Can your estimates match those of the analysts?

Anyone can participate

You don’t need a Bloomberg terminal, a DCF model with more assumptions than you can count, or an office pass granting access to a sea of adjustable desks. You don’t even need to instinctively distinguish ROIC from ROE. All you need is an opinion – and the willingness to put a number on it.

Submit your estimates for revenue and operating profit, earn points based on how close you are to the actual results, and climb the leaderboard. It’s completely free – and an excellent way to put your analytical skills to the test. The winner receives not only a merch kit from us at Pinpoint, but something even better: the right to say you beat the pros!

Follow the competition in real time

Throughout the competition, you can track the standings directly on the competition page. There you can see which participants are performing best, how your own estimates compare, and – not least – how the analysts are doing. FactSet also participates in the league and collects points in the same way as all other users.

Here's the companies in Challenge the Analysts.

Atlas Copco and Sandvik are first to report, on 27 January. So open your Excel sheet, the back-of-the-napkin notes, or simply trust your gut – and get started.

Good luck!

Go to the competition page