Dickinson Launches 2024 Annual Investment Competition

Photo by Tyler Caruso.

Students recently gathered to get the rundown on the 2024 Investment Competition at the competition's launch meeting. Photo by Tyler Caruso.

Annual event is sponsored by the Burgess Institute for the Global Economy and the Department of International Business & Management

by Tony Moore

Dickinson is excited to announce the 2024 Annual Investment Competition, offering students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in financial markets and investment strategies. This campuswide event, organized by the Burgess Institute for the Global Economy and the Department of International Business & Management, is set to run for 10 weeks, from September 11 to November 22.

The competition provides students with a low-stress environment to apply their knowledge and learn from real-world market dynamics and is open to all students, regardless of their major or year of study. This approach echoes the goal of its sponsor, the Burgess Institute, which is a new initiative at Dickinson offering business, finance and leadership preparation to students with any major. Participants in the Investment Competition will benefit from comprehensive support, including guidance from faculty, the career center, student groups and industry professionals.

Trading Rules & Platform

Participants will receive $1,000,000 in virtual cash to invest using the StockTrak platform. The competition allows trading in various asset classes, including U.S. equities, fixed-income securities, derivatives and cryptocurrencies. Key rules include:

  • A total trade limit of 300 with a daily limit of 20 trades
  • Minimum stock price for buying or shorting: $5.00
  • No more than 25% of the portfolio can be invested in a single security
  • Short selling and margin trading (at 10% interest) are permitted

Prizes & Recognition

The competition offers cash prizes for top performers:

  • 1st Place: $300
  • 2nd Place: $200
  • 3rd Place: $100
  • 4th-5th Place: $50 each
  • 6th-10th Place: Dickinson swag

Diverse Participation

Last year's competition saw impressive participation from over 70 students across various majors and class years. The event attracted a diverse group of participants:

  • 53% from international business & management and 25% from economics and quantitative economics
  • Other majors included data analytics, art history, law & policy, political science, environmental science, computer science and mathematics
  • 26% female participants (compared to 16% in the industry)
  • 17% international students

Judging Criteria

Rankings will be based on each portfolio's total return over the holding period. An audit will be conducted on October 11 to ensure that participants have invested at least 80% of their portfolio in non-cash securities, a requirement that must be maintained until the end of the competition.

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Published September 10, 2024