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Davis Center for Portfolio Management

Student Investors Make Millions

A UD education means learning through discovery and practical experience. In the Richard and Susan Davis Center for Portfolio Management, 80 students from across the University gain real-world portfolio management experience and develop essential leadership skills each year. 

Members of the Davis Center along with students in the portfolio seminar class manage a portion of the University's endowment. Students invest across sectors and industries in a well-diversified portfolio, utilizing in-depth analysis of the economy as well as equities themselves. The Center is designed to replicate a Wall Street buy-side firm, equipped with industry-leading technology such as Bloomberg,  FactSet, Morningstar Direct, and S&P NetAdvantage.

The Flyer Investments Fund, combined with a separate portfolio managed on behalf of The Dayton Foundation, makes the University of Dayton's student-run fund the largest in the country, with nearly $67.8 million in assets under management as of 2021.

  • $67.8 Million

    assets under student management (as of 2021)

  • 80

    students gain hands-on experience each year

  • #1

    largest student-managed investment fund in the country

A COMPETITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE

Define Your Career Path

Through real-world experiences, mentorship, and classroom discussions, students that participate in the Davis Center can be confident to handle whatever comes their way! The experience you gain at the Davis Center can help forge your desired career path. The alumni of the Davis Center now total over 600 and work at some of the most respected investment firms on Wall Street, including BlackRock, Citadel, Citi, Cleveland Research, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PIMCO, Robert W. Baird, and William Blair.

The Beginning and History

The Davis Center for Portfolio Management was formally founded in the fall of 1999 by alumnus Mr. Dick Davis and his wife Sue, the University Board of Trustees, President Bro. Raymond Fitz, CFO Tom Burkhardt, SBA Dean Dr. Sam Gould, Director Dr. David Sauer, and inaugural student manager Adam Molina, with a one million dollar grant from the University of Dayton’s Endowment. When it first launched in 1999 it was a small, $1 million fund; by 2010 it was worth more than $11 million. Seven years ago, the Flyer Fund — a portion coming from the university’s endowment and a pool of assets for the Dayton Foundation, a local nonprofit — was valued at $22 million. Today, the fund's assets have grown to $67.8 million in 2021.

Investment Objective, Philosophy & Process

The Flyer Investments Fund's underlying investment philosophy is Growth At a Reasonable Price. What is a typical Flyer Investments Fund Stock? First, it is a company that can compound capital because it exhibits a competitive advantage or economic moat (i.e. wide or narrow) AND the stock trades at a discount to our estimate of intrinsic price (i.e. implied ROI > 12%). Fundamental equity research is the cornerstone of the Flyer Investments Fund.

Our Structure and Teams
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Application Process

An open membership application period for sophomores and juniors is held each October; applications for first-year Interns are accepted annually in November. In both instances, applicants from all majors are welcome. You may request a membership application a month in advance of your respective recruitment period by e-mailing Management.DCPM@gmail.com.

High School Portfolio Competition

Each fall, the Davis Center sponsors a simulated portfolio competition among classes from several area high schools. Throughout the competition period, members of the Davis Center pay periodic instructional visits to the classrooms to teach the high schoolers about the stock market and the principles of investing so as to inform their trade decisions.

Explore

Visit Us

Interested in visiting the School of Business Administration and talking with some of our current business students and faculty? The best way to understand our passion, innovation, and community is to experience it yourself. Experience an academic tour by scheduling a Business Visit using the link below. We'd love to meet you!

CONTACT

Davis Center for Portfolio Management

Miriam Hall, Room 118
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 2226
937-229-3073
Email

AACSB ACCREDITED

Our accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.