Caimanes Student-Managed Equity Hedge Fund
How will your investment portfolio perform?
Every rising return speaks to a financial analyst’s research and valuation strategy. But appreciation isn’t always automatic or lasting, as organizational, market, and global conditions routinely shake things up.
You’ll understand why and how in the University of Florida Warrington College of Business’ Caimanes Student-Managed Equity Hedge Fund. This is an exciting opportunity to directly oversee one of the few long/short investment strategies available at a U.S. college or university.
Curious about where your recommendations could lead? Explore Caimanes further and apply today!
About the Caimanes Student-Managed Equity Hedge Fund
Launched in 2024, Caimanes presents students with the chance to administer a long/short equity investment strategy under the guidance of a former hedge fund manager.
What is Caimanes?
Caimanes brings students deep into the investment process using a model widely adopted by hedge funds. Students do more than observe: They study market trends and employ valuation methodologies to present, monitor, and adjust portfolio recommendations.
Managing the fund
Caimanes provides real-world training for students considering a career in financial analysis. At the same time, the portfolio isn’t a simulation but a fund-generator for scholarships UF reserves for first-generation students. Any remaining earnings help support Caimanes’ external activities.
Support
The launch and operation of the Caimanes Student-Managed Equity Hedge Fund is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Steven A. Cohen, the founder and CEO of Point72 and owner of the New York Mets.
What you’ll do
Active in all aspects of portfolio management, participating students analyze S&P 500 companies to continuously develop recommendations that they then present to an advisory board composed of faculty and alumni.
Financial analysis
In teams representing different sectors, you’ll assess pricing and secondary information to expand your understanding of a company, its industry, and its market history. In the process, you’ll devise financial models and turn to relative and intrinsic valuation techniques.
Monitoring
You’ll track dynamic financial markets to ensure the fund remains up to date and performs optimally. This involves reviewing company filings, earnings calls, and industry news to evaluate existing investments and pursue emerging opportunities.
Advanced training
Training in advanced portfolio risk management techniques equips you with the knowledge to select investments that consistently outperform average S&P 500 returns.
Our approach and strategy
The Caimanes fund manages risk by diversifying our portfolio, taking long positions in companies we believe have strong potential and shorting those we consider less favorable. To further mitigate risk on our short positions, we utilize call options.
Investment strategy
Caimanes follows a long/short, bottom-up investment strategy where students assess individual stocks and pitch companies based on fundamental analysis and valuation. This approach aims to generate returns from both rising and falling markets while also reducing overall market risk through diversification.
Investable capital
Caimanes typically runs Net Long (~60% Long and ~40% Short). This allows the fund to benefit from rising markets, maximizing potential gains from the overall upward trend in asset prices. Investments include U.S. public equities and derivatives, with positions of ~1% to ~2% of the total Assets Under Management (AUM).
Defense
All investment pitches are submitted for evaluation by the Investment Committee. During weekly meetings, these ideas are rigorously stress-tested by all participating partners. To proceed with a trade, it must receive a majority vote from the Investment Committee.
Due diligence
The Caimanes Executive Board and Chief Investment Officer collaborate closely with the sector groups to determine position sizing, taking into account current exposure and diversification strategies. The investment horizon depends on the thesis timeline, its progression, and industry trends. The investments are continuously monitored to assess whether the thesis remains valid.
Why participate in Caimanes?
Lectures and assignments have introduced you to valuation, risk mitigation, and more portfolio management techniques — so why not practice them right on campus?
Real-world experience
Caimanes parallels what many hedge fund professionals do day to day: identify long-position stocks that will soar in value, sell ones about to decline, and minimize market exposure to create a profit.
Grow your skills
In this intensive industry incubator, you’ll strengthen your skills in portfolio management, trading, derivatives, and more technical finance competencies employers prioritize.
Professional development
Develop self-discipline and an eye for detail as you lead your team, refine your analyses, and learn to communicate your findings to a discerning audience.
An exclusive opportunity
Warrington remains ahead of the pack by implementing a student-managed fund found at only a few U.S. colleges and universities. For you, participating in Caimanes allows you to hone investment strategies and manage capital in a manner increasingly deployed by hedge funds.
How to apply
When you’ve gotten a glimpse of financial analysis (and have the certificates to prove it), why not apply to Caimanes to upgrade your investment strategy experience in real time?
Applications to the Caimanes Student Managed Equity Hedge Fund are held each fall semester of the academic year. Students from all majors are welcome to apply; however, fourth-year students are not eligible. Preference is given to first and second-year students, though third-year students are also encouraged to apply.
An information session will be held on Thursday, August 28th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Hough 120 and on Thursday, September 4th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Bryan Hall 130.
Round Zero Applications are due by September 5th at 11:59 p.m.
After students formally apply to the Caimanes Student Managed Equity Hedge Fund via the application link below, qualified candidates will be entered into the following enrollment tests:
Round Zero Pre-Screening:
Submission of Resume and GPA.
Round One:
An in-person assessment of analysts’ critical thinking abilities at 6:30 a.m. in Hough Hall 120, by invitation only.
Round Two:
The executive board will conduct 20-25 minute in-person interviews, by invitation only. Questions will be a mix of both behavioral and technical questions based on year, courses taken, and internship experience. Each interview will conclude with a 5-minute Q&A session.
Join the fund
If you’re ready for an investment opportunity that mirrors the real-world actions of finance professionals, give the Caimanes Equity Hedge Fund a try.
Members
Meet tomorrow’s financial advisors and investment professionals, as well as the faculty nurturing their development.
Matthew Smith
President
LinkedIn
Olivia Siller
Vice President
Marcos Ortega
Assistant Head of Research
Jevin Tan
Head of Research
Sebastian DiBenedetto
Assistant Head of Research
Zachary Ducore
Head of Risk Management
Joshua Azia
Head of Analyst Operations
Sophia Parra
Head of Administration
Have questions?
Contact us today to learn more about participating in Warrington’s latest student-managed investment fund.