Applied Value Investing Certificate

About the Alternative Investments Certificate Program

Unlock the secrets of successful value investing with the comprehensive 8-week online Alternative Investments certificate program from Wharton Online and Wall Street Prep. You'll master an actionable framework for identifying undervalued stocks using the process-driven approach employed by the world's top investors. This career-oriented program blends Wharton's world-class academic insights with Wall Street Prep's practical training, bridging investment theory with real-world application.

Gain the skillset used by leading hedge funds and value investors to uncover high-potential opportunities and generate long-term portfolio returns.

Program Curriculum (8 Weeks)

• Week 1: Introduction to Value Investing. Explore the origins of value investing, foundational principles (price vs. value, margin of safety), and the core philosophy followed by legendary investors.
• Week 2: Market Efficiency & Mispricing. Understand theories of market efficiency and why stock prices move. Identify scenarios where markets misprice stocks, creating opportunities for value investors through expectation gaps and catalysts.
• Week 3: Intrinsic Value Assessment. Learn to analyze businesses by evaluating economic moats and key value drivers. Study how revenue growth, profitability (ROIC), and reinvestment needs impact a company's intrinsic value. Practice fundamental valuation methods including comparables and discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis.
• Week 4: Institutional-Grade Analysis (Part 1). Dive into professional research techniques. Apply the FEV (Fundamentals-Expectations-Valuation) framework, build robust financial models, and learn to interpret company filings and management commentary to formulate a well-rounded investment thesis.
• Week 5: Institutional-Grade Analysis (Part 2). Refine your investment thesis development with contrarian thinking tools. Analyze competitive advantages and barriers to entry, and pinpoint the top drivers of a business's long-term value creation.
• Week 6: Growth, Risk, and Uncertainty. Disaggregate revenue growth to understand its components and sustainability. Assess various risks and uncertainties impacting valuation, and examine the role of corporate governance, capital allocation, and shareholder activism in driving or hindering value.
• Week 7: Process-Driven Investing. Gain insight into building a repeatable investment process. Learn efficient research techniques (checklists, scenario analysis, etc.), incorporate alternative data insights, and consider short-selling perspectives to stress-test your ideas and improve decision-making.
• Week 8 (Elective): Buy-Side Career & Stock Pitch. For those pursuing professional investment roles, this capstone module covers career development on the buy-side. Learn how to pitch a stock idea to portfolio managers or investment committees and discuss how value investing skills apply across various roles in active asset management.

Learning Experience & Faculty

The 8-week online format combines flexible self-paced learning with interactive support. Engage with high-quality video lectures led by world-renowned Wharton faculty and prominent investment professionals, complemented by insights from Wall Street Prep's expert instructors. You'll solidify your understanding through hands-on exercises, real-world case studies analyzing equities, and live weekly office hours for Q&A and mentorship. Optional networking events may also be available, allowing you to connect with peers and industry leaders.

Who Should Enroll?

This certificate program is ideal for individuals looking to develop professional-grade investing skills to manage portfolios or advance in investment careers. It's particularly beneficial for:

• Individual investors managing their own stock portfolios who want an institutional-grade investing approach.
• Financial advisors, wealth managers, and RIAs aiming to deepen their investment expertise and better serve clients.
• Aspiring or early-career hedge fund and asset management analysts seeking a rigorous foundation in value investing.
• Sell-side equity research analysts looking to transition to buy-side roles or enhance their fundamental analysis toolkit.
• Family office professionals and asset allocators responsible for evaluating fund managers and investment opportunities with a long-term value focus.
• Early-career finance professionals or career switchers targeting roles in investment management or equity research.

Program Outcome & Certificate

Upon successful completion, you will have mastered a comprehensive value investing skill set — from rigorous company analysis to portfolio-level decision making — mirroring the approach of top investment professionals. You'll be equipped to confidently identify undervalued opportunities, perform in-depth equity research, and craft data-driven investment theses. Participants receive a prestigious digital certificate jointly issued by Wharton Online and Wall Street Prep, bolstering your resume and validating your expertise in value investing strategies.

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