9 questions reported in Viking interviews, organised by the group that asks them. Every question carries a model answer and graded feedback on your own attempt.
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Variant perception, catalyst mapping, short construction and sizing. 9 questions
A first-round screen for candidates new to equity investing.
What does it mean to be long a stock and short a stock? Why might a fund hold both at the same time?
A basic stock-pitch follow-up used to separate a view from a tradeable view.
What is a catalyst in a stock pitch? Give two examples and explain why an undervalued stock can still be a poor investment without one.
A practical research exercise used after an interviewer asks for an investable idea.
Consensus expects a retailer to deliver $1,000m of revenue and a 10% EBIT margin next year. You believe revenue will be $1,050m and margin 11%. How do you translate that into an earnings variant view,…
An earnings-season question that tests whether you can separate headline results from durable economics.
A company beats quarterly EPS by 12%, but revenue is in line. How would you decide whether the beat improves your investment thesis?
The question behind every stock pitch. Funds want to know how you generate ideas, not just evaluate them.
Markets are broadly efficient. Where do you actually find a view the market doesn't already hold?
A stock-pitch challenge used to test whether a candidate can distinguish valuation caution from a tradeable short.
A software company trades at 20x forward revenue, growth is slowing, and you think the multiple should eventually fall to 12x. Is that enough to short it? What additional work would turn the view into…
Asked immediately after a stock pitch at any fund.
You've pitched a long with 40% upside and 15% downside. The PM asks what size you'd put on. Walk through your answer.
An investment-committee scenario that tests whether you update a thesis without anchoring to your entry price.
You own a 4% long position. The stock falls 25% after management cuts annual revenue guidance from 18% growth to 8%, blaming a delayed customer implementation. Management maintains its long-term…
A fundamental long-short interview after an analyst identifies a credible earnings disagreement.
You believe consensus overstates a company's earnings power, but the next visible reporting event is six months away. How would you turn the thesis into an investable short rather than a valuation…
Write your answer, get it graded on technical accuracy, completeness and communication, and see exactly which mechanic you missed.
Company tags reflect where a question type is commonly reported in interviews. They are not sourced from, endorsed by, or affiliated with Viking.