BLADE STOCK CONTEST: WEEK 9

Clay6 vaults into the lead as halfway point approaches

4/29/2014
BY CHIP TOWNS
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
  • Blade-School-Stock-Contest-2014-with-sponsors


    • With the midway point of The Blade School Stock Contest approaching in early April, the students in Keith Dunbar’s sixth-period economics class at Clay High School knew something had to change.

    Their team, Clay6, was in 41st place. This would be the team’s only chance to trade in one or more of their stocks for another stock that would help them move up in the standings.

    Mr. Dunbar has his students do a simulation that is separate from the Blade contest. Each student chooses 10 stocks and tracks them.

    Taylor Daniel, a junior, had chosen several science-related companies. She plans to major in molecular genetics in college.

    “When we decided to change, she spoke up, and she said she had bought a stock and it had done well for her,” Mr. Dunbar said “And it was priced low so we could buy a lot of units.”

    The stock was BioFuel Energy Corp.

    Clay6 decided to sell Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Panera Bread Co. and buy BioFuel Energy Corp. and Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc.

    Alliance has done well, gaining 13 percent. BioFuel Energy has done better, growing by more than 54 percent.

    The combination has been enough to push Clay6 into first place after Week 9. Minions, from Park Elementary School in Swanton, dropped to second place after leading for three consecutive weeks.

    Soon after Clay6 bought BioFuel Energy stock, the company received a nonbinding offer to be purchased by Greenlight Capital, a well-known hedge fund. That caused the price to soar.

    “Company news, both positive and negative, will drive a stock price,” said Ronald Belle, senior vice president and investment advisers division executive at Fifth Third Bank in Toledo.

    Many companies have been reporting their first-quarter earnings recently.

    “During earning season each quarter, investors become sensitive to company news because companies are reporting financial performance as well as offering guidance to future quarters,” Mr. Belle said. “So, good news will often lead to a stock moving up.”

    That leads to a lot of volatility. Teams can rise a lot or fall a lot.

    Karats, a team from Fallen Timbers Middle School in Whitehouse proved that, jumping from 117th after Week 8 to 11th after Week 9.

    One of its stocks, Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., jumped more than 50 percent last week.

    The company announced that the Food and Drug Administration had decided that a drug it had developed to treat muscular dystrophy could proceed on the Accelerated Approval pathway.

    Any number of teams could vault to the top of the standings if one of their stocks can make a jump like that.

    But for now, Clay6 can enjoy its place at the top of the standings.

    “The kids are excited,” Mr. Dunbar said. “We talk about it a lot. They want to know about investing and they want to know about stocks. The contest definitely sparks interest.”

    The contest started on Feb. 21. Each of the 158 teams was given a mythical $40,000 to divide evenly among four stocks.

    When the contest ends on May 16, the team whose portfolio has grown the most will be the winner.

    The winning team will get $250 for the students and $250 for the school.

    The second-place team will receive $250 for the school, and third place gets $100 for the school. Prizes may be cash or gift certificates.

    The contest is sponsored by The Blade’s Newspaper in Education program, the Taylor Automotive Family, Fifth Third Bank, and the University of Toledo, which calculates the results.

    Contact Chip Towns at: ctowns@theblade.com or 419-724-6194.

     

    Standings after Week 9 of The Blade School Stock Contest, with rank, team name, school, and portfolio amount. Each team started with a mythical $40,000.

    • 1. CLAY6, Clay High, Oregon, $47,145.94
    • 2. Minions, Park Elementary, Swanton, $46,664.12
    • 3. SAGET22, Park Elementary, Swanton, $44,047.71
    • 4. AWGB8, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $43,147.27
    • 5. 6Loserz, Rossford Jr. High, $42,972.10
    • 6. GGnoRE, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $42,961.99
    • 7. ADTR, Springfield High School, Holland, $42,909.27
    • 8. TTuttle, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Fostoria, $42,857.62
    • 9. Mitch5, Bowling Green High, $42,696.80
    • 10. Clay8, Clay High, Oregon, $42,557.83
    • 11. Karats, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $42,468.70
    • 12. CHASE08, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $42,441.63
    • 13. CoolCat, Dundee (Mich.) High, $42,296.82
    • 14. magicw, Bowling Green High, $42,275.99
    • 15. MOMA, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $42,261.70
    • 16. FA4th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $42,206.27
    • 17. MVCDSRK, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $42,063.60
    • 18. 8LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $42,046.37
    • 19. Chiefs, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $41,925.20
    • 20. DA BEAN, Rossford Jr. High, $41,715.23
    • 21. BigDawg, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,696.13
    • 22. purpleg, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $41,618.57
    • 23. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $41,614.19
    • 24. CashFlo, Rossford Jr. High, $41,600.52
    • 25. MCMM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $41,450.69
    • 26. CashFO5, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,351.32
    • 27. Trex, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $41,249.00
    • 28. Dogs101, Park Elementary, Swanton, $41,225.83
    • 29. moneymm, Bowling Green High, $41,100.70
    • 30. JJRAP, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,068.94
    • 31. Nikki, Bowling Green High, $41,010.22
    • 32. one, Bowling Green High, $40,969.13
    • 33. bobKATS, Bowling Green High, $40,944.82
    • 34. WOLFSqd, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,815.39
    • 35. stockbo, Bowling Green High, $40,791.72
    • 36. 7LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $40,789.26
    • 37. jlas, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,687.75
    • 38. Bucs, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,670.89
    • 39. addsubs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,575.52
    • 40. CHASE06, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $40,565.57
    • 41. SPOOOON, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,544.53
    • 42. FA6th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,462.78
    • 43. FoStock, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $40,459.10
    • 44. MVCDSLI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,417.42
    • 45. Risk101, Rossford Jr. High, $40,396.05
    • 46. 4Saints, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,330.42
    • 47. FISH, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,302.93
    • 48. ZZEBRAZ, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $40,291.17
    • 49. SHS1, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,170.63
    • 50. 136627, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,151.01
    • 51. Bowties, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,140.16
    • 52. HEYAA, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,103.68
    • 53. mariner, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,042.75
    • 54. Turnt, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,905.70
    • 55. Boats, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,869.60
    • 56. BSBIS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,799.62
    • 57. TurnUhh, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,773.90
    • 58. 6GRocks, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $39,763.57
    • 59. 7NINJAS, Rossford Jr. High, $39,751.37
    • 60. FA5thR, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,718.99
    • 61. THEMOB, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,691.66
    • 62. VolleGs, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $39,595.67
    • 63. WeezMan, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,591.49
    • 64. 5Shards, Bowling Green High, $39,562.59
    • 65. MVCDSJS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $39,542.15
    • 66. MeGusta, Bowling Green High, $39,534.75
    • 67. Bagels, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,527.97
    • 68. FA5thL, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,457.47
    • 69. Clay1, Clay High, Oregon, $39,376.94
    • 70. Seahors, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $39,345.31
    • 71. TOMFORD, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,329.24
    • 72. BaZinga, Pike Delta York Middle School, Delta, $39,287.21
    • 73. THEM, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,279.79
    • 74. SHS386, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,267.05
    • 75. kingsto, Bowling Green High, $39,100.27
    • 76. cosmic, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,089.28
    • 77. Redmenz, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, $38,974.81
    • 78. FA8th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $38,932.44
    • 79. GOLD, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,912.79
    • 80. ganar, Bowling Green High, $38,908.19
    • 81. Giraffe, Bowling Green High, $38,847.63
    • 82. teampic, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,842.01
    • 83. ClayHON, Clay High, Oregon, $38,838.23
    • 84. magconb, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,816.32
    • 85. magicb, Bowling Green High, $38,761.63
    • 86. AvenG3r, Dundee (Mich.) High, $38,748.38
    • 87. Shnozes, Rossford Jr. High, $38,732.22
    • 88. HASHTAG, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $38,612.80
    • 89. MVCDSNI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,560.36
    • 90. mightyt, Bowling Green High, $38,510.08
    • 91. linda, Bowling Green High, $38,508.82
    • 92. swag, Bowling Green High, $38,501.90
    • 93. AWGB7, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $38,496.20
    • 94. slushie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,465.97
    • 95. MVCDSTF, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,373.49
    • 96. MVCDSZB, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,368.84
    • 97. VIPER, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,343.32
    • 98. kahbobs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,306.14
    • 99. NPGTOWN, North Point Educational Service Center, Graytown, $38,232.99
    • 100. take, Bowling Green High, $38,227.05
    • 101. BG Lexi, Bowling Green High, $38,223.60
    • 102. 5LOCOS, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,217.06
    • 103. Clay500, Clay High, Oregon, $38,197.70
    • 104. CCC, Dundee (Mich.) High, $38,089.24
    • 105. gr8stok, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $37,989.43
    • 106. FA7th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $37,961.58
    • 107. BG Emma, Bowling Green High, $37,934.00
    • 108. Destroy, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,886.13
    • 109. mrToms, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $37,853.32
    • 110. Legit 6, Rossford Jr. High, $37,811.39
    • 111. CatFish, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $37,783.78
    • 112. SAP, SAP, Graytown, $37,775.54
    • 113. Flamngo, Bowling Green High, $37,728.11
    • 114. betty, Bowling Green High, $37,701.23
    • 115. nfl1314, Bowling Green High, $37,644.62
    • 116. MVCDSJA, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $37,524.70
    • 117. TeamAce, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,520.53
    • 118. SHS2, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,507.26
    • 119. thejerk, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $37,473.28
    • 120. PEMDAS7, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $37,464.11
    • 121. bobcat1, Bowling Green High, $37,439.32
    • 122. TBPN, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,384.37
    • 123. wolves, Bowling Green High, $37,364.95
    • 124. Scalywg, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $37,342.67
    • 125. Pirates, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $37,244.94
    • 126. 2fast4u, Park Elementary, Swanton, $37,226.83
    • 127. MVCDSZS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $37,221.67
    • 128. Pistach, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,027.94
    • 129. votefor, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $36,674.57
    • 130. PAYROLL, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $36,556.24
    • 131. PlumBum, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $36,475.30
    • 132. GROUP6, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,378.27
    • 133. AWGB5, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $36,373.13
    • 134. Sauce, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,273.78
    • 135. BGWolvs, Bowling Green High, $36,224.29
    • 136. BUCKETS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,199.01
    • 137. BetaMax, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,187.63
    • 138. STOCKRS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,077.90
    • 139. OICU812, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $35,966.15
    • 140. munchie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $35,861.60
    • 141. k3cs, Bowling Green High, $35,816.77
    • 142. johnsto, Bowling Green High, $35,628.18
    • 143. CTDM1, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,575.26
    • 144. HOBIE, Dundee (Mich.) High, $35,274.84
    • 145. saints, Bowling Green High, $35,252.41
    • 146. Welky, Rossford Jr. High, $35,144.00
    • 147. Manatee, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $35,106.41
    • 148. Jackpot, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,034.05
    • 149. Rugrats, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,020.38
    • 150. THEMILS, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $35,013.16
    • 151. teamnah, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $34,590.34
    • 152. IT, Springfield High School, Holland, $34,453.78
    • 153. CHASE05, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $33,007.24
    • 154. NATAS, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,957.68
    • 155. Clay333, Clay High, Oregon, $32,469.64
    • 156. CHASE07, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $32,062.44
    • 157. TNR03, Springfield High School, Holland, $31,453.89
    • 158. HOBIE 2, Dundee (Mich.) High, $31,035.81