Though it just welcomed its first class of students in fall 2017, the Lundquist College of Business's master of science in finance (MSF) program already needs a trophy case. Ty Clauer, James Bowlin, and Tong Kim—three students from our inaugural MSF cohort—won the Peeptrade University Challenge Investment Competition in Chicago on April 22, 2018.
The Lundquist College MSF team competed against graduate business teams from the University of Southern California, Vlerick Business School, Georgetown University, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of Miami, Texas Christian University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, Rice University, IPADE, EGADE, INSEAD, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The Peeptrade University Challenge invited university teams from around the world to manage a virtual endorsement of $1,000,000 in real time on the Peeptrade platform. Students managed their virtual portfolios over two months and competed on the investment performance. They were also evaluated according to their adherence to a chosen investment strategy and rationale for stock selection. The spring 2018 Peeptrade University Challenge started February 19.
Based on their performance, which saw a return versus the S&P of 4.46 percent, the University of Oregon MSF team was selected to receive an all-expense paid trip to the final event at the University of Chicago on Saturday, April 21, 2018. At the final event, Clauer, Bowlin, and Kim presented their investment policy statements and reported on their portfolios" performance to a panel of seasoned finance professionals. The University of Oregon team was announced as the winner on April 22, hoisting the Peeptrade trophy.
"The Peeptrade University Challenge was an amazing, hands-on experience," said Bowlin. "We were able to apply what we learned in a professional setting and share and present those approaches at the University of Chicago."
"We had a few strategies in mind before the competition started. Once we saw volatility spike in early February, we decided to pursue those that would both mitigate risk and capitalize on the heightened volatility using long/short positions, with the expectation that it would persist," added Clauer.
The recently launched MSF program at the University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business provides the top-quality training necessary for a successful career as a financial analyst. In just 12 months, students can earn their MSF from Oregon's top research university. The UO MSF program also boasts a CFA Institute recognized curriculum, preparing students to sit for the CFA exam. Fewer than 150 universities worldwide are included on this exclusive list.
"The University of Oregon has always had an exceptional undergraduate finance program. Our new MSF program builds on that success with a focus on valuation and asset management," said University of Oregon finance professor Z. Jay Wang, whom the team consulted with on several occasions during the competition. "This victory in the first year of our MSF program is a testament to our amazing students and our dedication to providing the finest finance education."