Oregon shares top earnings with University of Idaho in strong year for investors
D.A. Davidson & Co. today announced that a student team from the University of Oregon has been named the winner of the annual Fred Dickson Memorial Award, the top award in the firm’s Student Investment Program, while also completing the year with the second-best-performing portfolio. A University of Idaho team had the top-performing portfolio in the program, enjoying a total return of 68.4 percent for the program year.
The Fred Dickson Memorial Award honors one team annually that is considered the most outstanding participant in D.A. Davidson’s Student Investment Program. In selecting the winning program, D.A. Davidson considers several topics in addition to investment performance, including how well programs stick to their stated investment processes and the overall level of student engagement. As winners of the sixth annual award, the University of Oregon Ducks receive a $2,000 check and an invitation to an exclusive event hosted by D.A. Davidson.
“We congratulate the Oregon team on their adherence to the guidelines of the Student Investment Program and continuation of the strong performance they have had over the years,” said James Ragan, Director of Wealth Management Research for D.A. Davidson and co-head of the Student Investment Program. “This program provides a unique opportunity for aspiring financial professionals to learn a range of valuable skills, and we’re honored to partner with teams such as the Ducks.”
Cindy Burg, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, who serves as D.A. Davidson advisor to the University of Oregon team, said she enjoys witnessing students as they bring their business skills to their investment decision-making under the direction of Professor Stephen McKeon. The program also has been rewarding for the students who apply for positions at D.A. Davidson, she noted.
“It’s so exciting to see them earn this award this year after watching their hard work and focus. They learn so many important skills through this program,” Burg said. “Way to go, Ducks!”
For the program, D.A. Davidson provides student teams from senior-level investment courses at 21 Western and Midwestern colleges and universities with $50,000 to invest in the stock market, for a total commitment of $1.05 million annually. Each team makes investment decisions with the guidance of a local D.A. Davidson financial advisor and manages the portfolio for one year, starting September 1. The program is designed to provide hands-on experience in finance, stock research, portfolio management and investment topics.
The top-performing teams receive a check for their college, earning half of any portfolio gains above 5 percent. D.A. Davidson absorbs any losses. For the 2019-2020 program recently ended, the D.A. Davidson donation totaled $114,185. In the 26 years since D.A. Davidson began sharing program profits, the company has donated $742,354 in profits to participating institutions.
The University of Idaho’s 68.4 percent return for the year was more than three times higher than the 21.9 percent total return for the same period for the S&P 500 Index, a standard benchmark for the stock market, and more than five times higher than the 10.3 percent return for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The composite return for the same period of all Student Investment Program institutions was 24.8 percent.
Only four teams did not earn checks in the 2019-2020 program year. Brent Williams, Senior Research Analyst and co-head of the Student Investment Program, said the results stand in marked contrast to the prior year, when only two of participating teams had portfolio returns that were high enough to earn checks.
“Even as we approach the election amid heightened uncertainty in the economy, the past year has brought strong market results and solid returns for many investors, including our Student Investment Program teams,” Williams said. “We believe this program highlights the importance of learning about investing and portfolio management, helping students understand how markets change, especially in years marked by volatility.”
The Student Investment Program was launched in 1985 at Montana State University and gradually added colleges throughout the West and the Midwest since that time.
D.A. Davidson Wealth Management offers an array of financial advice, services and solutions to individuals, families, businesses and institutions. For 85 years the firm’s advisors have provided straightforward advice and personalized solutions to help build, protect and pass on wealth for generations.
About D.A. Davidson Companies
D.A. Davidson Companies is an employee-owned financial services firm offering a range of financial services and advice to individuals, corporations, institutions and municipalities nationwide. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Montana, with corporate offices in Denver, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle, the company has approximately 1,400 employees and offices in 26 states.
Subsidiaries include: D.A. Davidson & Co., the largest full-service investment firm headquartered in the Northwest, providing wealth management, investment banking, equity and fixed income capital markets services, and advice; Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional asset management firm; D.A. Davidson Trust Company, a trust and wealth management company; and Davidson Fixed Income Management, a registered investment adviser providing fixed income portfolio and advisory services.
For more information, visit dadavidson.com.