On November 1, 2025, the Schwartz School of Business at St. Francis Xavier University hosted the finale of the inaugural Xaverian Stock Pitch Competition, a pioneering event aimed at providing students with invaluable real-world financial experience and industry exposure.
L-r, StFX Schwartz School of Business Dean Dr. Lisa Watson, Dr. Vijay Vishwakarma (Finance faculty), Nick E. MacDonald (first place), Jack D. Grimes (second place), Uduehi Adriel Uangbaoje (third place), Dr. Yen Nguyen (Finance faculty), and Dr. Chen Zhang (Finance faculty).
Nick E. MacDonald (Pitch-Exxon Mobil) was the inaugural winner of the competition, receiving the $500 first prize.
Finalists included Jack D. Grimes (Pitch-RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust) receiving second place and a $300 prize, with third place and $200 going to Uduehi Adriel Uangbaoje (Pitch-NVIDIA Corporation).
Faculty organizer Dr. Vijay Vishwakarma says the Xaverian Stock Pitch Summit was established to offer students a platform to apply classroom concepts, enhance analytical skills, and build confidence in public speaking. This inclusive competition welcomed participants from all year groups and disciplines, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
The competition also helped address the challenge of students often encountering limited access to industry networks and competitive finance events due to being located outside of Canada's major financial centers.
The competition commenced with a preliminary round on September 19, where 10 finalists were selected from over 20 applicants. Each competitor delivered a 10-minute pitch recommending a buy or sell decision on a publicly traded company, bolstered by thorough economic, industry, and company analysis.
Xaverian Stock Pitch participants included, l-r, Parker John Evans, Will Costello, Kellen James Fuller, Nick E. MacDonald (first place), Jack D. Grimes (second place), Uduehi Adriel Uangbaoje (third place), Savannah Louise Smith, Nahidul Islam Chowdhury, Alec J. MacIsaac, and Oliver Erich Tuchenhagen
The diverse range of companies pitched included notable names such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, ExxonMobil, Lululemon Athletica Inc., RioCan REIT, Kestra Medical Technologies, Constellation Brands Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Novo Nordisk, and PayPal Holdings Inc.
A panel of industry professionals served as judges, consisting of Andrew Bradshaw, CFP®, CIM®, RIAC, MFA-P , from Bradshaw Private Wealth; Alborz Saffari, CFA, Manager at RBC Capital Markets; and Nathan Hayes, CFA, Research Consultant at Eckler. "Their expertise provided valuable insights and feedback to the participants," says Dr. Vishwakarma.
The event also featured a keynote address from Stuart Tabor, Associate Portfolio Manager at Sionna Investment Managers. Dr. Vishwakarma says Mr. Tabor captivated the audience with his talk titled, "Value Investing: Making Money the Slow Way," sharing long-term investment strategies that resonated with both students and faculty.
To ensure participants were well-prepared, a student-led workshop was held prior to the event, equipping competitors with the tools to refine their pitches and bolster their confidence.
"The atmosphere during the finals was electric, filled with students, faculty, and community members. Audience engagement was heightened by a surprise finance quiz, which gave participants the opportunity to win $10 gift cards to local eateries. Breaks between pitches encouraged networking and allowed for Q&A sessions, creating a rich, interactive experience," he says.
Dr. Vishwakarma expressed gratitude to Schwartz School Dean of Business Dr. Lisa Watson, TD Bank for sponsoring the event, and the dedicated members of Xaverian Capital Ella Smith, Liam McCullagh, Kiara Schwarz-Chisholm, and Paul Eades for their support and contributions to the event.
Looking ahead, he says the overwhelming response has sparked plans to expand next year's competition to include participants from other Atlantic universities and feature more guest speakers from leading finance firms, promising even greater opportunities for students in the future.
