The Challenge

Step 1: Application

Send us your CV and a report on one of the following topics, explaining your thinking by the close of Sunday 15 November 2020 (23:59 GMT).

• Would you recommend buying or selling shares in Netflix, and why? (1,500 words)
• As your generation grows and reaches its peak purchasing power, what product or service will experience a significant increase in demand? Which companies are well positioned to benefit from this? (1,000 words)
• What is one important thing that you believe in that most other people don’t? (1,000 words)

Any currently enrolled student may apply. There are no academic background requirements and previous participants have ranged from first year to doctorate students, but successful applicants must be able and keen to dedicate time to research.

Word limits are provided as guidelines, content will be judged on quality and reasoning, not length. Please make sure your name is on every document you submit.

Step 2: Get some guidance on how to approach stock picking

Successful applicants will be invited to a training session with Orbis investment analysts (Virtually or in Central London, 16:00 GMT, 2 December 2020) who will help you understand how to approach researching and analysing a company.

Step 3: Research and write your ‘Challenge Report’, on a company of your choice

After the training session, you will have time to research a company of your choice and put together an investment report, for submission by 15:00 GMT on 31 Dec 2020.

Your chosen company will be one that you believe will meaningfully outperform the FTSE World Index over a three to five-year time horizon. The stock should have a market capitalization of USD $3 billion or above.

Step 4: The Challenge Presentation

We will select six reports whose authors will be invited to discuss their stock ideas with Orbis investment analysts. We're seeking to identify potential, so our assessment will depend on the level of experience across participants.

Step 5: Prizes

The student preparing the most promising report and stock presentation will be awarded £2,000, with the runner up receiving £500. Other participants attending the OSPC finals event in January 2020 receive £200. The OSPC finals event will be held at Orbis's central London office, if it is safe to do so, within the government guidelines for Covid 19 at the time. OSPC Participants may also be invited to interview for internships or jobs in Orbis' investment teams.

Questions?

For any questions regarding the challenge, please contact us at ospc@orbis.com.