The Intrinsic Cup
Official rules
Last updated November 15, 2026
01No purchase necessary
The Intrinsic Cup ("Contest") is a free contest of skill run by Intrinsic ("Sponsor"). A purchase or paid subscription does not improve your chances of winning. Void where prohibited.
02Eligibility
Open to individuals who are 18 or older and legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Employees of Sponsor and their immediate families are not eligible. One entry per person. Multiple accounts lead to disqualification of all of them.
03Contest period
Season 2026 runs from entry until the official market close on the last US trading day of December 2026. Entries are accepted throughout the season.
04How to play
Each entrant gets $100,000 of virtual cash. Buy orders specify a dollar amount and must include a written thesis and kill criteria. All orders fill at the official closing price of the trading day on which they are placed (or of the next trading day if placed after the close). No single company may exceed 20% of portfolio value at the time of purchase. Positions must be held at least 30 days. Maximum 20 open positions and 10 orders per 24 hours. Only US-listed common stocks covered by the site are eligible.
05Scoring
Portfolios are ranked by total price return (excluding dividends) from the $100,000 starting value, marked at official closing prices. To be ranked, an entrant must have a public handle, and at least 5 open positions at the final close. Ties are broken by the earlier entry date.
06Prizes
The 3 highest-ranked eligible entrants each win a 12-month complimentary subscription to the Intrinsic Partner plan, Intrinsic's premium plan. If paid plans have not launched by the end of the season, the 12 months begin on the day they launch. Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. If a winner already has a paid subscription, the complimentary year begins when it ends or is credited, at Sponsor's discretion.
07Winner verification
Potential winners are notified by email within 14 days after the season ends and must respond within 14 days, confirming eligibility. Sponsor may disqualify any entry that uses multiple accounts, automation, exploitation of data errors, or otherwise violates these rules or the Terms of Use, and the next eligible entrant is then selected.
08Publicity
Leaderboard entries show your public handle, return and theses for your largest positions. Your name and email are never shown publicly.
09Not investment advice
The Contest uses virtual money only. Nothing in the Contest is an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance, real or virtual, does not guarantee future results.
10General
Sponsor may modify, suspend or cancel the Contest if it cannot run as planned because of fraud, technical failure or data errors, and will post any change on this page. These rules are governed by the laws of Delaware. Questions: support@example.com.