Overview:
Baylor has two student-managed investment funds: A large-cap stock fund currently valued at approximately $14.2 million, and a small-cap stock fund currently valued at approximately $1.1 million. Students in the Portfolio Practicum courses are directly responsible for managing the portfolios, while learning the techniques used by professionals to analyze and select individual stocks. Each student will also learn how to use Bloomberg, FactSet, Thomson Eikon and other resources commonly used in the investment management industry.
The Classes:
Small-Cap: Mondays, 2:30-4:00pm, for a total of 16 weeks spread across both the Fall and Spring semesters
Large-Cap: Mondays, 5:00-7:30pm, for the Fall Semester only
Location: Hodges Financial Markets Center (Foster 116)
Structure: Designed after the format of an investment management firm and built around student participation.
Designed to cover two-semesters, the Small-Cap Practicum gives students experience researching, analyzing, and managing a portfolio of small capitalization (small-cap) stocks. The Fall course introduces equity research methods, including valuation, modeling, fundamental analysis, and cultivating resources. Student analysts, in teams, complete an initiation-of-coverage research report on a firm. Their research may include the team talking to company management and utilizing various information sources including financial documents, trade associations, and competitors, customers, and suppliers of the firm. In the Spring, one team will compete in the CFA Investment Research Challenge, while other student teams will continue to research and present new opportunities for the portfolio.
The Large-Cap Practicum is a one-semester course. The class structure is designed after the operational format of a funds management firm and is built around student participation. Specifically, two-person teams are assigned to cover each sector of the S&P 500. Although there are course readings, the course primarily consists of teams preparing and presenting to the class detailed reports on stocks in their sector. Every class member is involved in a discussion of each stock. Following the presentation and discussion, the team makes a recommendation on each stock. The class votes and the recommendations of the class are implemented.
For a better understanding of either course, you are welcome to attend all or part of a class session this semester! Both classes meet on Monday. The Small-Cap class begins this semester at 2:30 pm and the Large-Cap class begins at 5:00. The available Mondays this semester are March 20 (Large-Cap) and 27 (Small-Cap and Large-Cap).
Professors (Small Cap):
- David Morehead, CFA, Chief Investment Officer at Baylor University – Office of Investments.
- Renee Hanna, CFA, Managing Director of Investments at Baylor University – Office of Investments.
Professors (Large Cap):
- Brandon Troegle, CFA, CAIA, Senior Portfolio Advisor at Northern Trust Corporation.
- Taylor Finch, CFA, Managing Member at Finch Capital Management.
How to Apply:
Complete the online application at https://www.baylor.edu/business/financialmarkets/apply. The application will be open beginning at 8:00 am on Monday, March 20.
In addition to the usual grades, contact, and background information you will need to provide:
- Statements of why you wish to take the course and your career plans/goals
- Description(s) of any investment and/or finance-related experience
- Uploaded copies of your current resume and current unofficial transcript
The deadline for submission is Midnight, Monday, March 27.
Each course is open to both graduate and undergraduate business students with a minimum 3.2 GPA, a strong academic record, and an interest in investments*. Applicants will be evaluated by a Finance faculty committee.
For More Information go to: http://www.baylor.edu/business/financial_markets