Investment Research House (IRH)

Launched during AMEU’s flagship Economic Summit in August 2024, the Investment Research House (IRH) is one of AMEU’s latest initiatives, designed to bring together members with a shared interest in investments. Serving as a dedicated platform, the IRH provides resources and opportunities for aspiring finance professionals within AMEU to develop the skills essential for success in the financial services industry. Initial recruitment opened in September and the official induction was conducted online in December 2024. 

As Co-Directors, Czyn Jien and Jason oversee a dynamic team of 46 analysts, spanning all 3 branches and 7 departments. Currently, 55% of analysts are based in the Malaysian branch, 34% in the UK branch, and 11% in the US branch. As the cohort expands and interests beyond equity research take shape, we envision the IRH evolving to include specialized branches, such as FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment desks, broadening the scope of research and opportunities for its members.

The AMEU Investment Research House (IRH) enhances analytical and technical skills through structured initiatives. Our bi-weekly stock pitch program challenges analysts to develop investment theses while Devil’s Advocates critique risks, with insights from industry professionals shared via AMEU’s social media. To strengthen research quality, IRH offers workshops on financial modeling, valuation, and investment thesis development, alongside competitions and events like stock pitch challenges, ESG investing, and market outlook roundtables. These initiatives equip members with essential skills for success in financial markets.

For the IRH’s inaugural challenge, analysts undertook an in-depth analysis of ASML, leveraging fundamental research, key financial metrics, and valuation through comparable company analysis. This initiative is part of the IRH’s recurring Devil’s Advocate challenge, a monthly exercise where two groups of analysts debate opposing sides of an investment thesis, sharpening their analytical and critical thinking skills. 

Looking ahead to 2025, the IRH has partnered with Star Magnolia Capital’s GenZ Investor Academy, a Singapore-based family endowment office, to deliver a structured six-week investment workshop for its analysts. In partnership with Sunway Education Group as the venue coordinator, this program will provide a comprehensive foundation in fundamental analysis and public-market valuation through a blend of lectures, take-home exercises, and case studies, culminating in the development and presentation of a full-scale investment thesis.

Additionally, the IRH has collaborated with The Hive Southeast Asia, a local venture capital firm, to offer a VC workshop in February 2025. Focused on private markets, this initiative will introduce analysts to the key distinctions between public and private investing, exploring different investment rationales and methodologies. The program will conclude with a hands-on case study, equipping participants with practical insights into venture capital decision-making.

We hope to carry this momentum forward with us for the rest of 2025!