The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School Global Equity Fund is managed by 22 students in the school’s part-time MBA and Master of Finance programs. The global fund was established in 2009 and holds investments primarily in companies outside the United States. The limited-enrollment fund gives students the chance to research companies and manage and invest money from the school’s endowment fund. The fund managers’ goal is to outperform the MSCI All Country ex US Index, though it’s equally important that each member learns the processes by which investment decisions are made in a professional asset-management setting. Analysts conduct industry analysis, DCF and comparable valuation, multiples and sensitivity analysis in Excel, utilizing Bloomberg, Morningstar, IBIS World and 10K as references.
