In the Lundquist College of Business, students learn money management by investing real money, working with real portfolios and creating annual reports.

They also experience another critical component of investment: the annual meeting with stakeholders.

So it was for the University of Oregon Investment Group, which recently held its annual meeting.

The group provide students with the opportunity to participate in the operation of an investment management organization. Members learn through in-depth equity research processes, valuation techniques, portfolio management and market analysis.

Established in the late 1990s, members manage roughly $1 million in live money across three differently structured portfolios.

"They are mimicking a money management operation,” said associate professor of finance Ro Gutierrez, who served as the group's advisor during the past academic year. “The annual meeting is an opportunity for members to produce an annual report, have a meeting for stakeholders, and coordinate an annual event.”

The evening began with presentations from the group's three portfolio managers.

Cameron Patrick '13 – manager of the DADCO Portfolio – spent the year overseeing a group of investments that are part of a multi-university competition sponsored each year by D. A. Davidson & Company. Thanks to a timely investment in Tesla Motors, the portfolio had shot up in value.

Student analysts Nicholas Hubert and Michael Saeks presented research on a possible investment, just as members do each week at the group’s Friday morning meetings. In this case, the company in question was Boston Beer Company, maker of Samuel Adams beers, and the recommendation was "hold."

After the investment presentations, the crowd of students, guests and visiting alums from the investment group enjoyed dinner in the Jubitz Atrium of the Lillis Business Complex, where the group's incoming officers recognized the previous year's managers with speeches and gifts.

- by Lundquist College of Business