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Course Background

The Applied Investment Management (AIM) course was created in the fall of 1995 to give Notre Dame students the opportunity to participate in live portfolio management while developing their financial analysis skills through rigorous, fundamental equity research. AIM is comprised of approximately 25 students per semester, selected through a competitive application process. The selected students-turned-analysts are charged with the research and decision making process required to manage a live portfolio, currently valued at over $31 million.

Course Structure

AIM is an intensive, 6-credit course that requires substantial work outside of the classroom. The course is student-led, built primarily around student presentations and discussion. During the course, each student analyst is required to complete a series of reports and presentations on two stocks: one from the existing AIM portfolio and one the analyst chooses as a potential addition to the portfolio. These reports include analyses of business fundamentals, competitive position and strategy, financial forecasts, and valuation.  Brought together, these reports culminate in the analyst’s final recommendation on whether to include the stock in the AIM portfolio. Collectively, the analysts act as a portfolio management team, providing feedback on each other's work throughout the course and voting on final portfolio decisions. The entire body of work is designed to mimic the portfolio management process of a hedge fund manager with a specific emphasis on comprehensive equity research.

To complement their fundamental security analysis, the analysts work together in groups throughout the semester to produce joint reports related to economic analysis, portfolio performance analysis, and idea sourcing.  At the end of the semester, the analysts also formally present the results of their analysis and portfolio decisions to the AIM Advisory Board, which includes a select group of Notre Dame alumni and other investment professionals.

In addition to managing a live portfolio, AIM analysts have the opportunity to hear from a number of investment professionals both in the classroom and during the class trip.  During the semester, the analysts travel to a major financial center such as New York, Chicago, Boston, or San Francisco to visit with industry professionals, many of whom are partners with the Notre Dame Investment Office. The trips are a tremendous opportunity for the analysts to learn about career opportunities and increase their exposure to some of the top talent in the industry across a variety of asset classes.

Related Course Offerings and Opportunities

For more information about AIM and other finance course offerings, please refer to the Department of Finance and the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing. 

In addition to AIM and other related courses, Notre Dame and the Mendoza College of Business offer a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities related to finance and investing. We encourage you to check out the many opportunities and programs offered through the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing, as well as the wide range of related student clubs and organizations, including: