Middle Georgia State University (MGA) students took top honors at the 2026 Stock Pitch Competition, hosted by MGA’s School of Business. The competition brought together 13 teams from colleges and universities across Georgia to demonstrate their financial analysis, investment research, and presentation skills.
Representing MGA were Haley Lopez, Josiah Hester, and Ximena Castro, all seniors pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Economics. The team earned first place for its analysis and investment recommendation involving GE Vernova, an American energy equipment manufacturing and services company.
Throughout the competition, student teams presented their research and investment recommendations to a panel of judges, demonstrating their ability to evaluate publicly traded companies and communicate their findings. The competition provided students with an opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real-world financial decisions while developing skills essential for careers in the financial services industry.
Mercer University earned second place, while the University of North Georgia finished third.
The competition highlights MGA's commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for professional success. For Lopez, Hester, and Castro, who all aspire to careers in wealth management and financial advising, the first-place finish represents an outstanding accomplishment and a promising start to their professional careers.
This is the 3rd annual event sponsored by the School of Business at Middle Georgia State University. The School of Business also congratulates Dr. Yaseen Alhaj-Yaseen and all of the Economics faculty for their hard work in developing and presenting this premier event. Our competition has become an elite level competition drawing students from across the state. Our competition has become an elite level competition drawing students from across the state.
Congratulations to our MGA team on an exceptional achievement!
