What a long, strange trip it's been in the Blade School Stock Contest. After 14 weeks of wild market volatility, a team passed a six-week leader to win the game.
It was the Smartys of Horizon Science Academy in Toledo, with a portfolio valued at $54, 229 through the close of the stock markets Friday. Like all other contestants, the team started with a hypothetical $40,000.
Finishing second were the Dragon$ of Erie Huron Ottawa Education Service Center in Genoa, at $52,757, and ending up in third was Big $ of Luckey Elementary, at $52,745. The Smartys' dramatic rise began five weeks ago when it was ranked No. 13.
"They were very much surprised when they found out [they won]," said teacher Lauren Hablitzel-Lake. "When they dropped to 13th, they thought their ship had sailed."
The Blade contest, which began on Jan. 18, involved 1,325 students on 104 teams from 26 schools who each picked two New York Stock Exchange and two Nasdaq stocks, each selling for more than $5. An imaginary $40,000 was divided equally among the four companies, and the team with the portfolio that grew the most won.
First place receives $500, to be divided between the team and its school. Second place wins $250 for its school, and third place wins $100 for its school. The game was co-sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, which tabulated the results each week, and The Blade's Newspaper in Education program.
Each team was allowed to change one or all four of its stocks halfway through the contest, and several did. But none of the top three finishers did so.
For the Smartys, the seventh-grade math class of 11 students researched stocks, brought information about them into class, then collectively decided, explained student Brione Walker. The portfolio had First Solar Inc., Ford Motor Corp., Diamonds Foods Inc., and Diana Shipping
Inc. Last week, the portfolio grew 3.6 percent. No other team in the top 3 had gains. The biggest gainers were Diana Shipping, up more than 9 percent, and Diamond Food, up 3.25 percent.
Said student Brijette Smith, "I didn't think I was going to have fun this year, then this [contest] popped up."
Ms. Walker agreed: "I hope we play this again. It's fun."
Whether they decide to invest in real life is an entirely different matter, Brijette said. "I've thought about it, like the whole idea of it. It sounds interesting."
The team plans to spend its $500 in prize money on a water-park field trip.
The Dragon$ team's portfolio dropped 2.2 percent last week. Its shares of First Solar, CSX Corp., and Cabela's Inc. fared well, but Whirlpool Corp. sank the team.
"Whirlpool giveth and taketh away," said Matt Faltys, vice president and director of portfolio management for Fifth Third Bank. The stock was down nearly 7 percent last week because of a downbeat earnings forecast, he said.
Teacher Steve Myers said, "The students are pleased that they placed, but they are definitely disappointed that they lost their lead."
They worried Friday how Whirlpool's drop would affect them, he added.
In third, Big $'s portfolio dropped 0.1 percent last week and it missed finishing second by $13. It was made up of First Solar, John Deere Co., Apple Inc., and Owens-Illinois Inc.
Mr. Faltys, offering advice for next year's contest, said, "Make sure you check the momentum behind the stock. Buy one that's already moving, and stay diversified. That would be key."
Contact Ted Fackler at:
tfackler@theblade.com
or 419-724-6199.
First Published April 29, 2008, 8:52 a.m.
