Build Your Edge Before the Bell
“Read first. Argue second. Trade third. That sequence — not its reverse — is what makes a SIC entry stand up to the rubric.”
The SIC participant kit is deliberately compact. A short reading list, a small set of vetted simulators, the valuation frameworks our judges actually use, and a growing archive of past cases. Read what you need, skip what you don’t — and arrive at the Regional Stage knowing what a defensible thesis looks like.
What to Read Before the Season Starts
A short, curated list. We don’t recommend reading everything — we recommend reading one or two of these well, then writing your own one-page summary. The students who arrive at Regional Stage having done that consistently produce the strongest rubric scores.
Where to Practice Without Real Money
The SIC platform handles the official Junior Division simulator — orientation is part of WhatsApp intake. The platforms below are vetted for self-directed practice before or alongside the season. None requires payment.
SIC Trading Simulator
The official Junior Division simulator. Calibrated to live market data. Account setup and orientation handled during WhatsApp intake. This is the only platform whose data feeds the official judging process.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
Long-running free simulator, good for pre-season practice. Useful for learning order types, position sizing mechanics, and the discipline of weekly reconciliation. Not used for any official SIC scoring.
MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange
Class-friendly virtual exchange. Useful if you want to run a practice league with classmates before applying. Not used for any official SIC scoring.
The Methods Our Judges Actually Use
These are the four valuation and research frameworks SIC mentors and judges expect Senior Division strategy reports to engage with — at least one, ideally two. The point is not to perform a textbook DCF; it is to show you understand which framework fits the thesis you are defending.
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
The foundational intrinsic-value framework. Project free cash flows, discount them back at the cost of capital, compare the implied value to the market price. The mechanics are simple; the inputs (growth rates, discount rate, terminal value) are where the argument lives.
Comparable Company Analysis
Triangulate value by comparing the target against a peer set — EV/EBITDA, P/E, P/S, EV/Sales multiples. The skill is in choosing the right peer set and adjusting for structural differences. Often paired with DCF as a cross-check.
Scenario & Sensitivity Analysis
Build a base case, a bull case, and a bear case — and show explicitly which assumptions drive each. Sensitivity tables on key inputs (growth, margin, discount rate) are heavily rewarded under rubric axis 03 (Risk Articulation).
ESG Materiality Analysis
Identify the environmental, social, and governance factors that materially affect the company’s long-term cash flows or cost of capital. Then incorporate them as inputs — not appendices. The SASB framework is the most common starting point.
What Strong Past Entries Actually Look Like
Featured Cohort entries from prior seasons are archived in the SIC Hall of Fame with each participant’s permission. They are the most useful reference document you can read before submitting your own — not as templates to copy, but as evidence of what passes the rubric.
Browse past Featured Cohort entries
The full archive of Featured Cohort submissions (with permitted publication) lives in the Hall of Fame. Each entry includes the original submission, the rubric scorecard, and a brief note from the judging desk on what distinguished it.
View the Hall of Fame →Webinars, Office Hours, Omaha
SIC runs three structured live-session formats across each season. All are bilingual where possible; recordings are available to active participants through the program desk.
About SIC Resources
Do I need to read every book on the reading list?
No — and we’d argue against it. The students who score best on the rubric read one or two of the foundational texts deeply (writing their own one-page summary) rather than skimming all six. Quality of engagement, not coverage, is what carries over into Regional Stage thesis logs.
Are the simulators the same as the official SIC platform?
No. The Junior Division uses an official SIC simulator that feeds judging data. The simulators listed in §02 are for self-practice before or alongside the season — they’re not connected to any SIC scoring. Don’t worry about practicing on the “right” platform; the official one is provided at intake.
Do I need to know all four research frameworks before applying?
No. The frameworks in §03 are what Senior Division submissions are expected to engage with at the Global Stage — they’re a roadmap, not a prerequisite. Junior Division participants don’t need to author DCF models; the rubric expects thesis-level reasoning, with framework references where appropriate.
Where can I see past entries before I apply?
The Hall of Fame archive (see §04) holds Featured Cohort submissions from prior seasons that participants gave permission to publish. The current published archive grows each season; SIC does not publish entries from participants who did not give permission.
Do I have to attend the Omaha Dialogue Summit?
No, but it is open to all active S15 participants and is the program’s flagship live event. Most participants who can attend, do. Logistics, format, and any travel guidance are discussed with the WhatsApp program desk closer to the May date.
Applications Close June 1, 2026.
2026.03.20 — 2026.06.01 · Open now
SIC operates a WhatsApp-only intake. Scan the code at right to reach a real program advisor — they walk you through eligibility, division selection, and any consent paperwork your school may need.
There is no online registration form, and no third-party brokers. SIC is operated by SKT, endorsed by CEE, and academically supported by ACME.
