BLADE STOCK CONTEST: WEEK 10

The Minions regain lead in competition

5/6/2014

BY CHIP TOWNS
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Blade-School-Stock-Contest-2014-with-sponsors

The Minions are back in first place.

The team of fifth graders from Park Elementary School in Swanton regained the lead after Week 10 of The Blade School Stock Contest.

The Minions had led for three consecutive weeks before dropping to second place last week behind Clay6, from Clay High School.

Now the Minions have once again regained the top spot, with Clay6 slipping to second place. Two weeks remain in the contest.

Park Elementary teacher Jenny Schmidt says her students have had a range of reactions.

“Excited. Nervous. ... I think they are biting their nails,” Ms. Schmidt said of her team, which is competing against 157 other teams, most of which are from high schools or middle schools.

At the start of the contest, each team was given a mythical $40,000 to invest evenly in four stocks.

When the contest ends 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 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.

Midway through the contest, teams had a chance to trade one or more of their stocks for a different stock.

The Minions stuck with their original stocks, and so far it is paying off. Their portfolio has grown 20.2 percent in 10 weeks.

But they know there are no guarantees. They’ve seen other teams rise and fall based on good or bad news about one particular stock.

A key stock this week could be Tesla Motors Inc. Both Minions and third-place GGnoRE own Tesla.

Tesla will announce its quarterly earnings Wednesday afternoon.

“This is a highly publicized company with a lot of public interest,” said Ronald Belle, senior vice president and investment advisers division executive at Fifth Third Bank in Toledo.

“The earnings report will have an impact on the stock’s performance. If the report is positive, we can expect the stock to move up, potentially in a dramatic way. However, if the news is negative or not as positive as expected, it could move down also in a dramatic way.”

GGnoRE, from Saint Rose in Perrysburg, traded Ralph Lauren stock for Tesla midway through the contest.

“It hasn’t been quite as profitable for them as they had hoped,” said Anne Brahier, who teaches the GGnoRE students in an eighth-grade honors math class.

The Saint Rose team has been in the top 10 for most of the contest.

“They are feeling quite proud of themselves,” Ms. Brahier said. “[U.S. Silica Holdings Inc.] has been very strong for them throughout the competition.”

The stock has gained more than 47 percent in the first 10 weeks of the contest.

Second-place Clay6 saw its best stock, BioFuel Energy Corp., fall 9 percent last week. But Alliance Fiber Optics Products Inc. gained about the same amount, minimizing the impact.

“Clay6 has provided us a good example of diversification,” Mr. Belle said. “Investors use diversification to reduce risk. Every investment has some degree of risk. Having a portfolio of companies from different industry sectors is a way to diversify.”

Seventy of the 158 teams have seen their portfolios grow in the last 10 weeks. But 140 of them grew last week, led by MVCDSJA from Maumee Valley Country Day School. The team’s portfolio grew 8.8 percent.

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

WEEK 10 STANDINGS

Standings after Week 10 of the 12-week Blade School Stock Contest, with rank, team name, school, and portfolio total. Each team started with a mythical $40,000.

1. Minions, Park Elementary, Swanton, $48,073.16
2. CLAY6, Clay High, Oregon, $47,574.65
3. GGnoRE, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $45,319.44
4. AWGB8, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $44,058.02
5. SAGET22, Park Elementary, Swanton, $43,803.18
6. ADTR, Springfield High School, Holland, $43,711.49
7. TTuttle, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Fostoria, $43,637.52
8. Clay8, Clay High, Oregon, $43,532.69
9. 6Loserz, Rossford Junior High, $43,390.68
10. Mitch5, Bowling Green High, $43,274.13
11. Karats, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $43,104.90
12. CoolCat, Dundee (Mich.) High, $42,938.28
13. CHASE08, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $42,779.39
14. MOMA, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $42,764.48
15. JJRAP, Springfield High School, Holland, $42,705.80
16. FA4th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $42,673.84
17. purpleg, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $42,618.54
18. Team BG, Bowling Green High, $42,612.60
19. Dogs101, Park Elementary, Swanton, $42,430.92
20. Chiefs, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $42,379.10
21. Trex, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $42,357.26
22. magicw, Bowling Green High, $42,354.97
23. MVCDSRK, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $42,319.62
24. 8LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $42,281.96
25. BigDawg, Dundee (Mich.) High, $42,157.99
26. DA BEAN, Rossford Junior High, $41,933.56
27. Nikki, Bowling Green High, $41,929.81
28. one, Bowling Green High, $41,855.09
29. MCMM, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $41,726.90
30. 7LHSTG, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $41,717.08
31. FA6th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $41,678.43
32. HEYAA, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,616.56
33. ZZEBRAZ, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $41,612.41
34. stockbo, Bowling Green High, $41,569.75
35. bobKATS, Bowling Green High, $41,536.26
36. CashFO5, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,529.71
37. Clay1, Clay High, Oregon, $41,414.69
38. addsubs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $41,409.36
39. 4Saints, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,369.72
40. jlas, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $41,308.26
41. SPOOOON, Dundee (Mich.) High, $41,283.70
42. Bowties, Park Elementary, Swanton, $41,178.30
43. MVCDSJS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $41,166.54
44. WOLFSqd, Springfield High School, Holland, $41,143.33
45. MVCDSLI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,946.79
46. 136627, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,933.76
47. MVCDSJA, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $40,830.43
48. moneymm, Bowling Green High, $40,816.88
49. BSBIS, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,778.45
50. FISH, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,749.35
51. mariner, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,738.91
52. Bucs, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,703.63
53. Seahors, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,652.57
54. FoStock, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $40,619.69
55. THEMOB, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,471.53
56. TurnUhh, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,423.74
57. Boats, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $40,399.04
58. Turnt, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,396.97
59. FA5thR, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,388.13
60. Bagels, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,376.82
61. 6GRocks, L. Hollingworth School for the Talented and Gifted, Toledo, $40,338.17
62. SHS1, Springfield High School, Holland, $40,260.08
63. 7NINJAS, Rossford Junior High, $40,230.41
64. 5Shards, Bowling Green High, $40,163.97
65. cosmic, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,145.36
66. MeGusta, Bowling Green High, $40,130.49
67. Risk101, Rossford Junior High, $40,129.12
68. WeezMan, Dundee (Mich.) High, $40,106.40
69. FA5thL, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $40,095.44
70. VolleGs, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $40,046.85
71. TOMFORD, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,871.13
72. THEM, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,853.62
73. swag, Bowling Green High, $39,792.97
74. Giraffe, Bowling Green High, $39,791.04
75. CashFlo, Rossford Junior High, $39,763.59
76. teampic, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $39,759.50
77. kingsto, Bowling Green High, $39,737.78
78. SHS386, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,544.97
79. AvenG3r, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,493.11
80. 5LOCOS, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,484.06
81. CHASE06, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $39,474.89
82. FA8th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $39,414.94
83. ganar, Bowling Green High, $39,352.85
84. GOLD, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,300.87
85. kahbobs, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $39,145.14
86. slushie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $39,139.31
87. mightyt, Bowling Green High, $39,111.71
88. VIPER, Springfield High School, Holland, $39,107.98
89. BaZinga, Pike Delta York Middle School, Delta, $39,092.41
90. BG Lexi, Bowling Green High, $39,086.27
91. MVCDSTF, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $39,065.09
92. CCC, Dundee (Mich.) High, $39,040.01
93. HASHTAG, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $39,032.45
94. Shnozes, Rossford Junior High, $39,023.23
95. MVCDSZB, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,975.92
96. SHS2, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,908.80
97. ClayHON, Clay High, Oregon, $38,897.86
98. NPGTOWN, North Point Educational Service Center, Graytown, $38,885.83
99. thejerk, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,822.91
100. linda, Bowling Green High, $38,715.74
101. Legit 6, Rossford Junior High, $38,523.13
102. Redmenz, Fostoria Jr./Sr. High, Fostoria, $38,451.74
103. Destroy, Dundee (Mich.) High, $38,428.15
104. TBPN, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,411.38
105. Clay500, Clay High, Oregon, $38,406.04
106. FA7th, Franciscan Academy, Sylvania, $38,399.04
107. AWGB7, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $38,330.57
108. gr8stok, Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, $38,328.29
109. magconb, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $38,291.80
110. mrToms, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $38,283.58
111. TeamAce, Springfield High School, Holland, $38,227.09
112. Scalywg, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $38,226.17
113. MVCDSNI, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $38,202.15
114. wolves, Bowling Green High, $38,049.22
115. take, Bowling Green High, $37,990.48
116. nfl1314, Bowling Green High, $37,920.59
117. BG Emma, Bowling Green High, $37,890.31
118. votefor, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $37,836.12
119. betty, Bowling Green High, $37,824.39
120. GROUP6, Springfield High School, Holland, $37,820.85
121. Flamngo, Bowling Green High, $37,790.62
122. CatFish, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $37,716.44
123. bobcat1, Bowling Green High, $37,648.13
124. 2fast4u, Park Elementary, Swanton, $37,642.18
125. MVCDSZS, Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, $37,581.16
126. PAYROLL, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $37,576.00
127. Pistach, Dundee (Mich.) High, $37,483.50
128. PEMDAS7, All Saints Catholic School, Rossford, $37,385.82
129. AWGB5, Anthony Wayne High, Whitehouse, $37,280.02
130. PlumBum, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $37,209.69
131. Sauce, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,935.11
132. STOCKRS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,820.78
133. BUCKETS, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,797.89
134. k3cs, Bowling Green High, $36,736.01
135. SAP, SAP, Graytown, $36,622.69
136. munchie, West Side Montessori, Toledo, $36,578.90
137. BGWolvs, Bowling Green High, $36,559.39
138. CTDM1, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,469.18
139. OICU812, Fallen Timbers Middle School, Whitehouse, $36,468.06
140. johnsto, Bowling Green High, $36,433.27
141. BetaMax, Dundee (Mich.) High, $36,356.13
142. Jackpot, Springfield High School, Holland, $36,227.32
143. saints, Bowling Green High, $36,132.50
144. Pirates, Maritime Academy of Toledo, $36,063.08
145. HOBIE, Dundee (Mich.) High, $35,932.80
146. THEMILS, Byrnedale Elementary, Toledo, $35,918.12
147. Manatee, Saint Rose, Perrysburg, $35,870.81
148. teamnah, Saint John the Baptist, Toledo, $35,344.39
149. Rugrats, Springfield High School, Holland, $35,259.18
150. Welky, Rossford Junior High, $35,212.36
151. magicb, Bowling Green High, $34,801.78
152. IT, Springfield High School, Holland, $34,598.97
153. NATAS, Springfield High School, Holland, $33,982.02
154. CHASE05, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $33,158.86
155. CHASE07, Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, $32,820.68
156. Clay333, Clay High, Oregon, $32,374.40
157. TNR03, Springfield High School, Holland, $32,071.09
158. HOBIE 2, Dundee (Mich.) High, $31,102.54