Portfolio Management Practicums
Hands-on Learning
The Hankamer School of Business has two student-managed investment portfolios: a large-cap stock portfolio and a small-cap stock portfolio. Each portfolio is managed by students enrolled in specially designed "hands-on" finance courses in which the students learn the tools and techniques used by professionals to analyze and select individual stocks and manage investment portfolios.
Each course is offered by the Department of Finance to graduate business students and undergraduate Finance majors with strong academic records. Enrollment in each course is limited. Students must apply to take the course and are admitted based on the strength of their qualifications.
Large-Cap Portfolio Management Practicum
Students enrolled in this course manage the $17.8 million (as of June 2025) investment fund, which has been endowed with monies contributed by Baylor alumnus Philip M. Dorr and other Baylor alumni and friends, along with additional funds from the University.
The Large-Cap Practicum is a one-semester course conducting in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The class structure is designed after the operational format of a funds management firm and is built around student participation. Specifically, two-person teams are assigned to cover each sector of the S&P 500. Although there are course readings, the course primarily consists of teams preparing and presenting to the class detailed reports on stocks in their sector. Every class member is involved in a discussion of each stock. Following the presentation and discussion, the team makes a recommendation on each stock. The class votes and the recommendations of the class are implemented.
The class meets on Mondays 5-8p.m. in the Hodges Financial Markets Center.
Small-Cap Portfolio Management Practicum
The Small-Cap Practicum is a one-semester course offered in the Spring semester only for the 2025-2026 year. Students in this course manage the $1.4 million (as of June 2025) investment fund, which has been endowed with monies provided by Hodges Capital Management and other friends of Baylor. The Small-cap Practicum differs from the Large-cap Practicum in two primary ways. First, smaller firms have less analyst coverage, thus requiring investors to make decisions with more uncertainty. Second, the course will trade a small portion of the time dedicated to industry practices in exchange for focus on theory and the way in which a Christian worldview can influence investment decisions.
The class meets during the school day (specific time TBD) in the Hodges Financial Markets Center.
Professors
The Large-Cap professors both come from the professional investment field:
- Brandon Troegle, CFA®, CAIA® is a Managing Director and portfolio manager with Hillcrest Asset Management, focusing on the firm's securities selections across various strategies. Before joining Hillcrest, Brandon was an equity analyst at Morningstar. Prior to Morningstar, he worked for Luther King Capital Management and Bank of America.
- Taylor Finch, CFA® is the founder and portfolio manager of Finch Capital Management, focusing on the firm's equity strategy. Before starting Finch Capital Management, Taylor was an equity analyst at Century Management. Prior to Century Management, he worked for ORIX Corporate Capital.
The Small-Cap course is led by Dr. Shane Underwood (holder of the Pat and Thomas R. Powers Chair of Investment Management and former Finance Department Chair). Follow this link to read more about Dr. Underwood.
How To Apply
Applications for both courses are due Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Students may apply to both courses simultaneously and have the opportunity to indicate their preference between the two courses on the application. Students may not participate in both courses.
For additional information on the application process, contact Brian Young.
