By Fernanda Castillo
Staff Writer
Wingate University’s Investment Club has reached a significant achievement, surpassing the $200,000 mark in its student-managed portfolio. The portfolio, started in 2018 with $100,000 in Endowment assets, has seen substantial growth, reflecting both strategic evolution and a hands-on learning approach for students.
Laura Williams, an investment advisor at Merrill Lynch who helps manage Wingate’s Endowment, said the portfolio’s growth reflects the evolving structure of the investment strategy. “The portfolio was started as a teaching tool for students to learn portfolio management,” she said. “We have seen tremendous growth in both assets and strategy.”
Retired former Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch managing director DJ Baudhuin, the club’s advisor from Charlotte, emphasized the educational value of the group’s work. “While we hope to generate superior investment returns, our goal is also to build knowledge and confidence for students to make their own investment decisions,” he said.
The club’s weekly discussions focus on both the markets and broader financial-literacy topics, such as the impact of impulsive buying during stressful periods and the importance of saving early to take advantage of compound interest.
Luka Brown, a senior Finance major from Australia who is the club’s president, said that this success was primarily due to strategic allocations. “Our portfolio strategy bases on a core S&P 500 benchmark, which makes up 60% of our investments,” he said. “This year, the S&P’s 20-30% growth played a huge role in reaching our record.”
The remaining 40% of the portfolio, actively managed to generate “alpha” (returns beyond the benchmark), includes high performers like Denver-based Palantir Technologies, which has more than doubled in value since the club’s initial investment. Additional investments in Google, Berkshire Hathaway and sector-based ETFs (exchange-traded funds) also strengthened returns.
This year’s gains marked a significant shift from previous years’ modest growth. “Investment returns depend heavily on market performance each year,” said Brown, a student-athlete at Wingate who plays on the men’s tennis team. “We’ve seen tremendous growth recently, but years of minimal returns also happens.”
This semester, the club’s shifted towards a more active portfolio management strategy. Previously, portfolio adjustments were made annually, but this year the club has already altered allocations—adding Verizon and reducing T-Mobile holdings—to adapt to anticipated market changes.
Students play an active role in these decisions. Brown said that the club members are divided into two groups to research stocks and ETFs. After presenting their findings, the club collectively selects investments based on group discussions. This approach allows members to continue to the portfolio’s direction.
As Wingate’s Investment Club celebrates its $200,000 achievement, members remain focused on maintaining disciplined strategies and exploring new opportunities for growth. “While the portfolio’s growth has been exciting, we know it’s not a straight line up,” Brown said. “It’s important to stay committed to a balanced approach, even during market fluctuation.”
Baudhuin encourages students to join the Investment Club’s meetings, which are held every Tuesday in the Neu building’s computer lab at 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. The club is open to all students who are interested in participating, not just Business and Finance majors.
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