BLADE STOCK CONTEST: WEEK 4

Springfield team in 1st, but 2 from 
St. Rose vie for bragging rights

3/24/2014
BY CHIP TOWNS
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
  • Blade-School-Stock-Contest-2014-with-sponsors


    • Two teams from Saint Rose School in Perrysburg are among the top six teams after Week 4 of The Blade School Stock Contest.

    ZZEBRAZ is in second place, not far behind top-ranked GOLD from Springfield High School, which leads for the second week in a row.

    GGnoRE jumped into sixth place among the 158 teams.

    ZZEBRAZ is made up of students in Anne Brahier’s accelerated seventh-grade math class. GGnoRE consists of some of the students in Ms. Brahier’s eighth-grade honors math class.

    The competition between Ms. Brahier’s seventh graders and eighth graders is intense. The group that finishes higher in the contest will get to wear something other than the Saint Rose school uniforms for a day.

    But there’s something that might be even more important.

    “Bragging rights,” Ms. Brahier said.

    It’s the third year Ms. Brahier has involved her students in the annual 12-week contest.

    “The exposure to real-life math and business concepts is so important and so valuable, and it definitely sparks their interest in math in general,” Ms. Brahier said. “The competition itself provides that inherent motivation.”

    She said she uses the contest to teach “two very important middle-school concepts”: unit rate and graphing.

    “Every week each student graphs each of their team’s stocks as well as the total portfolio,” Ms. Brahier said.

    Each of the 158 teams in the contest was given a mythical $40,000 to split evenly among four stocks. Midway through the contest — on April 4 — the teams will have one chance to trade in one or more of their stocks.

    At the end of the contest, 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 stock 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.

    ZZEBRAZ has relied primarily one one stock: GT Advanced Technologies Inc. The company supplies synthetic sapphire for Apple’s iPhone 5, and its stock has soared amid reports that Apple will use it in the upcoming iPhone 6 also.

    “[ZZEBRAZ was] really looking for something that might spike within the next few months, and they looked at various technology stocks,” Ms. Brahier said. “One of the students was talking about it at home, and they got some advice to look at GTAT.”

    GGnorE has a more balanced portfolio, with U.S. Silica Holdings Inc., Basic Energy Services Inc., and Chipotle Mexican Grill all doing well, and Ralph Lauren Corp. staying steady.

    “ZZEBRAZ and GGnorE are examples of two differing methods of investing,” said Ronald Belle, senior vice president and investment advisers division executive at Fifth Third Bank in Toledo. “Both have had positive outcomes in the short-term. It will be interesting to see if these trends continue in the weeks to come.”

    Obviously, most investors have a time frame of more than 12 weeks.

    “A balanced portfolio will minimize risk of owning one individual stock,” Mr. Belle said. “When deciding on a strategy, it is important to know what time horizon you are working with. Investors who have a longer time horizon, one year or greater, often benefit by minimizing risk with a balanced portfolio. Typically, the longer the time horizon, the greater the benefit of having a balanced portfolio because you are spreading risk over a larger period of time.”

    Three teams benefited last week by owning First Solar Inc. stock, which went up 35.8 percent last week after giving guidance for the next couple years, announcing a deal with General Electric, and setting a world record for thin-film module efficiency.

    AWGB8 from Anthony Wayne High School jumped from 25th place to seventh place. Trex, from Fostoria Jr./ Sr. High soared from 78th place to 11th. BetaMax from Dundee High School climbed from 155th to 105th.

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

     

    WEEK 4 STANDINGS

    Standings after Week 4 of The Blade School Stock Contest, with rank, team name, school, and portfolio total. Each team started with a mythical $40,000.

    • 1. GOLD, Springfield High School, Holland, $47,108.11
    • 2. ZZEBRAZ, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $47,035.37
    • 3. ADTR, Springfield High School, Holland, $45,439.02
    • 4. Clay8, Clay High, Oregon, $44,616.36
    • 5. Minions, Park Elementary, Swanton, $44,548.76
    • 6. GGnoRE, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $43,819.15
    • 7. AWGB8, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $43,780.01
    • 8. CHASE06, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $43,774.34
    • 9. mariner, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $43,727.45
    • 10. magicb, Bowling Green High, $43,679.36
    • 11. Trex, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $43,672.51
    • 12. moneymm, Bowling Green High, $43,135.31
    • 13. 7NINJAS, Rossford Junior High, $43,045.35
    • 14. CLAY6, Clay High, Oregon, $42,862.86
    • 15. CHASE08, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $42,709.00
    • 16. ClayHON, Clay High, Oregon, $42,705.68
    • 17. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $42,454.89
    • 18. FA6th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $42,365.97
    • 19. CashFlo, Rossford Junior High, $42,354.91
    • 20. Bagels, Springfield High School, Holland, $42,267.34
    • 21. Flamngo, Bowling Green High, $42,259.93
    • 22. BG Lexi, Bowling Green High, $42,173.17
    • 23. Bowties, Park Elementary, Swanton, $42,164.54
    • 24. HASHTAG, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $42,137.59
    • 25. Mitch5, Bowling Green High, $42,113.48
    • 26. MVCDSNI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $42,106.03
    • 27. AWGB7, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $42,054.71
    • 28. MOMA, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $41,996.42
    • 29. 5Shards, Bowling Green High, $41,951.16
    • 30. DA BEAN, Rossford Junior High, $41,925.16
    • 31. TTuttle, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Fostoria, $41,876.97
    • 32. SPOOOON, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,864.90
    • 33. MVCDSZB, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,845.83
    • 34. SHS386, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,845.49
    • 35. Bucs, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $41,806.64
    • 36. PlumBum, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $41,791.99
    • 37. nfl1314, Bowling Green High, $41,673.01
    • 38. CatFish, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $41,649.10
    • 39. addsubs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $41,641.91
    • 40. MCMM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $41,631.11
    • 41. MVCDSRK, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,615.34
    • 42. Rugrats, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,604.34
    • 43. FA5thR, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,600.38
    • 44. AvenG3r, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,600.20
    • 45. take, Bowling Green High, $41,554.93
    • 46. Chiefs, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $41,518.39
    • 47. mrToms, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $41,496.03
    • 48. Boats, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $41,487.11
    • 49. purpleg, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $41,483.82
    • 50. FA4th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,471.49
    • 51. Jackpot, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,435.26
    • 52. FoStock, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $41,405.47
    • 53. JJRAP, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,389.28
    • 54. stockbo, Bowling Green High, $41,257.50
    • 55. CoolCat, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,216.21
    • 56. Dogs101, Park Elementary, Swanton, $41,150.03
    • 57. 6GRocks, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $41,107.34
    • 58. 8LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $41,081.38
    • 59. Legit 6, Rossford Junior High, $41,069.66
    • 60. SAGET22, Park Elementary, Swanton, $41,065.51
    • 61. WeezMan, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,021.64
    • 62. MVCDSTF, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,020.23
    • 63. slushie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,991.36
    • 64. VIPER, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,969.57
    • 65. BSBIS, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,960.65
    • 66. one, Bowling Green High, $40,960.58
    • 67. FA5thL, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,946.42
    • 68. magicw, Bowling Green High, $40,926.86
    • 69. kingsto, Bowling Green High, $40,906.83
    • 70. 4Saints, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,855.65
    • 71. THEM, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,798.04
    • 72. Manatee, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $40,778.74
    • 73. magconb, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $40,776.51
    • 74. Nikki, Bowling Green High, $40,768.94
    • 75. SAP, SAP, Graytown, $40,755.63
    • 76. 136627, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,746.50
    • 77. BigDawg, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,741.45
    • 78. Redmenz, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $40,733.22
    • 79. BG Emma, Bowling Green High, $40,730.20
    • 80. 6Loserz, Rossford Junior High, $40,709.99
    • 81. SHS1, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,705.60
    • 82. BUCKETS, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,681.01
    • 83. VolleGs, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $40,658.95
    • 84. PAYROLL, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $40,623.15
    • 85. Shnozes, Rossford Junior High, $40,616.32
    • 86. Pistach, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,553.46
    • 87. thejerk, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $40,546.74
    • 88. johnsto, Bowling Green High, $40,536.93
    • 89. BaZinga, Pike Delta York Middle School, Delta, $40,536.87
    • 90. HEYAA, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,531.00
    • 91. THEMOB, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,470.56
    • 92. Karats, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $40,464.05
    • 93. MVCDSLI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,429.75
    • 94. bobKATS, Bowling Green High, $40,409.99
    • 95. FA8th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,406.20
    • 96. MVCDSJS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,399.07
    • 97. munchie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,375.89
    • 98. PEMDAS7, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $40,368.51
    • 99. jlas, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $40,364.11
    • 100. FA7th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,349.90
    • 101. 7LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $40,319.31
    • 102. Clay500, Clay High, Oregon, $40,292.11
    • 103. WOLFSqd, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,267.10
    • 104. Seahors, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,255.43
    • 105. BetaMax, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,251.29
    • 106. Risk101, Rossford Junior High, $40,249.31
    • 107. bobcat1, Bowling Green High, $40,245.78
    • 108. 2fast4u, Park Elementary, Swanton, $40,184.89
    • 109. MeGusta, Bowling Green High, $40,161.04
    • 110. k3cs, Bowling Green High, $40,029.46
    • 111. 5LOCOS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,980.98
    • 112. betty, Bowling Green High, $39,979.17
    • 113. mightyt, Bowling Green High, $39,965.83
    • 114. kahbobs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $39,949.72
    • 115. NPGTOWN, North Point Educational Service Center, Graytown, $39,945.63
    • 116. ganar, Bowling Green High, $39,934.14
    • 117. TeamAce, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,923.78
    • 118. Giraffe, Bowling Green High, $39,902.91
    • 119. gr8stok, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $39,895.94
    • 120. TurnUhh, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,877.28
    • 121. linda, Bowling Green High, $39,802.47
    • 122. cosmic, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,800.73
    • 123. Clay1, Clay High, Oregon, $39,799.65
    • 124. SHS2, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,791.24
    • 125. Sauce, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,783.44
    • 126. CashFO5, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,773.66
    • 127. Turnt, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,760.45
    • 128. MVCDSJA, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $39,698.17
    • 129. TBPN, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,609.85
    • 130. IT, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,502.25
    • 131. wolves, Bowling Green High, $39,492.21
    • 132. votefor, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $39,420.11
    • 133. FISH, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,396.26
    • 134. Destroy, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,378.37
    • 135. MVCDSZS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $39,359.60
    • 136. GROUP6, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,190.01
    • 137. swag, Bowling Green High, $39,166.74
    • 138. teampic, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $39,155.50
    • 139. CCC, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,126.28
    • 140. STOCKRS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,092.46
    • 141. HOBIE, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,080.22
    • 142. teamnah, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,960.45
    • 143. TOMFORD, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,935.76
    • 144. THEMILS, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $38,930.50
    • 145. NATAS, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,899.23
    • 146. BGWolvs, Bowling Green High, $38,757.85
    • 147. CHASE07, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $38,713.68
    • 148. Pirates, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $38,580.16
    • 149. OICU812, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $38,403.48
    • 150. saints, Bowling Green High, $38,366.72
    • 151. Scalywg, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $38,292.60
    • 152. AWGB5, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $37,800.86
    • 153. CTDM1, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,596.70
    • 154. TNR03, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,545.13
    • 155. Welky, Rossford Junior High, $37,134.61
    • 156. HOBIE 2, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,490.37
    • 157. CHASE05, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $36,394.34
    • 158. Clay333, Clay High, Oregon, $34,934.64