A focused group of professionally dressed University of Florida students listens intently during a Gator Student Investment Fund meeting, reflecting engagement and dedication to finance and investment education.
University of Florida students participate in a Gator Student Investment Fund meeting, demonstrating focus and professionalism as they engage with complex financial topics.

Gator Student Investment Fund

Manage investment funds in a role that mirrors Wall Street

Join more than 50 of your classmates to invest the $1,500,000 in assets under management of the Gator Student Investment Fund.

You’ll deploy capital in value-oriented, domestic equities while managing portfolio risk. Funds support scholarships for first-generation, low-income students. You’ll also gain a sizable network, plus knowledge and experience that prepares you for internships and full-time positions.

If you’re selected, you’ll be placed into industry-focused research teams that pitch undervalued equities with support from our finance professionals.

Investment approach

Students build a sector-neutral portfolio using S&P 500 weightings, rebalanced quarterly. Our goal is to deliver alpha through a value-driven strategy based on fundamental research.

How we invest

  • Mirror the S&P 500 sectors: We use ETFs and individual stocks to match the sector weights of the index.
  • Active alpha through research: Sector teams pitch undervalued companies to portfolio managers using relative and intrinsic valuation.
  • Ideas selected through pitch process: Each team presents 4 ideas per year. Managers choose the most attractive for deeper analysis.

How we manage risk

  • Rebalance 4 times a year: This ensures the portfolio stays aligned with S&P 500 sector weights.
  • Use modeling to manage tracking error: We analyze historical correlations and future projections.
  • Balance active and passive positions: We size each based on return potential and volatility management.
A Gator Student Investment Fund advisor actively engages in discussion during a panel session, surrounded by attentive students and professionals. The image highlights the collaborative, competitive environment students join when accepted into the fund.
Industry professionals and student leaders engage in a dynamic panel session during the Gator Student Investment Fund event, offering real-world insights and thoughtful discussion on investment strategies and career development.

Join the fund

The fund accepts new member applications each semester in a highly competitive process. Applicants in their first or second year of study are preferred. Students from all academic disciplines are welcome to apply.

Apply to be an analyst

Application process

Applicants should demonstrate curiosity for financial markets and investing, a collaborative attitude with a desire to learn, the ability to articulate ideas persuasively and a creative and thoughtful stock pitch.

  • An information session details the organization’s structure, investment philosophy, and application process, and introduces the Portfolio Managers to applicants. 
  • The stock pitch session provides an overview on expectations and how to pitch a stock.
Sign up for info session
Join a stock-pitch session

Pitches that focus on an original thesis highlighting a difference from the broader market view are recommended. Discuss why the stock is undervalued and what factors will prompt the stock to rise to its “fair value.” Please focus on the qualitative story of the investment thesis backed by thoughtful supporting research and logic rather than model calculations. Pitches are evaluated on:

  • Long-term value-oriented investment
  • Public U.S. Equity with a market-cap greater than $200 million (ADRs are allowed)
  • Pitch length of 3 pages max. Submit as a PDF. 
  • Supporting quantitative analysis through Excel is welcome – submit via email (not required).

Refrain from pitching mega-caps (e.g., Apple, Tesla, etc.) or equities that lack significant historical financial data as it is difficult to develop and defend a viewpoint that is differentiated from the market.

Submit background information, a resume, and a stock pitch. The pitch is the most critical element of your application as it demonstrates creativity, analytical ability, and interest in the stock market and long-term investing.

Portfolio managers extend final-round interviews to qualified candidates only. Interviews include behavioral and technical components, and the difficulty level is scaled to reflect the candidate’s experience (e.g., candidates who submit a DCF will receive questions on it). These interviews will be the basis for final decisions on the new analyst class.

Students in the Gator Student Investment Fund participate in analyst training at computer workstations, analyzing financial data using Bloomberg terminals. The immersive eight-week program equips first-year analysts with skills in value investing, financial modeling, and equity research.
First-year analysts in the Gator Student Investment Fund receive hands-on training with Bloomberg terminals as part of an intensive eight-week program covering value investing, financial analysis, and portfolio management.

Training for first-year analysts

New analysts train for eight weeks in value investing, accounting, financial analysis, due diligence, modeling and valuation, while also mastering Capital IQ and Bloomberg software. Post training, you’ll prepare equity research that guides you final pitch.

  • Week 1: Introduction to the fund and value investing
  • Week 2: Accounting
  • Week 3: Ratios, multiples, and discounted cash flow
  • Week 4: Discounts and value drivers
  • Week 5: Investment thesis
  • Week 6: Portfolio management
  • Week 7: Attribution
  • Week 8: Special topics in corporate finance

Areas of study

Use of the Bloomberg terminal

Discounted cash flow analysis

Use of S&P Capital IQ

Catalyst identification

Coverage of all major financial news and data outlets

Comparable companies analysis

Insights into relative valuation and multiples

Financial modeling

Fund leadership

Portfolio managers and senior advisors

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Robert Craig

Portfolio manager

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Devin Mohr

Portfolio manager

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Christian Powers

Portfolio manager

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Nico Schull

Portfolio manager

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Ari Fooksman

Senior advisor

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Peyton Miller

Senior advisor

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Sydney Shaw

Senior advisor

Fund sectors

A woman in a white suit stands in a futuristic room surrounded by glowing digital screens displaying entertainment, social media, gaming, and communication interfaces.
A dynamic visual representation of the evolving digital landscape that intersects with finance, media, and interactive technology sectors.

Telecommunications, entertainment, interactive media, and wireless. Past investments include Disney, Alphabet, Match, Nexstar Media, Verizon, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

A person uses a calculator while reviewing printed financial charts and graphs, with a laptop and pen on the desk, representing financial analysis and investment strategy.
Analysts evaluate financial data and investment opportunities across banks, fintech, insurance, and real estate sectors.

Banks, payment services, insurance, fintech, and REITs. Holdings include First Horizon, National Storage Affiliates Trust, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, and VICI Properties.

A woman wearing a brown leather jacket stands in front of a brightly lit grocery store produce display, viewing neatly arranged fruits and vegetables.
Consumer staples represent the essential goods people rely on daily—like food, beverages, and household products.

Food, beverages, tobacco, non-durable household goods and personal products. Past investments include Coty, Kroger, Kenvue, PriceSmart, and Treehouse Foods.

A smiling man sits in the driver’s seat of a new car, testing the steering wheel while another man, possibly a salesperson or friend, stands outside the car offering guidance.
Consumer discretionary spending includes goods and services tied to lifestyle, comfort, and personal choice—like cars, apparel, and fitness.

Automotive, household durable goods, textiles & apparel and leisure equipment. Past investments include Carriage Services, Dollar Tree, Life Time Group, and VF Corp.

A female engineer wearing a hard hat and high-visibility jacket stands near an industrial site with power lines and refineries in the background, holding a laptop.
The energy sector spans oil and gas, renewables, and infrastructure—powering the world’s economies and investment opportunities.

Oil and gas exploration, solar power, transportation and refining. Current holdings include Black Stone Minerals, Devon Energy, Helmerich & Payne, and Vermillion Energy.

A group of scientists and medical researchers in lab coats work collaboratively in a modern laboratory, surrounded by microscopes, monitors, and lab equipment.
Healthcare investments span pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and services that support patient care and innovation in medicine.

Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare providers, drug and medical supplies, and biopharma services. Notable investments include CVS, Doximity, Humana, and ResMed.

An industrial engineer in a hard hat and safety jacket operates machinery in a manufacturing or processing facility, surrounded by heavy equipment and control panels.
The industrial sector drives infrastructure, defense, and production through innovation and scale.

Aerospace, defense, transportation, construction, mining, and utilities. Investments include ASGN, CSX, Lockheed Martin, PHINIA, Ruger Firearms, and Sensient Technologies.

Close-up of a person using tweezers and a soldering tool to work on a computer circuit board, highlighting detailed microchip and hardware components.
Technology investments span hardware, software, and communications—powering innovation from silicon to the cloud.

Hardware, software, telecom and media companies. Past holdings include ASML Holding NV, Digi International, Keysight Technologies, Microsoft, Squarespace, and Vishay.

Placements

Alumni work in financial services companies nationwide. Graduates are highly sought after because of their real-world experience.

Bain & Company
Bank of America
Citi
Jefferies
Truist
Blackstone
Citadel
McKinsey & Co.
RBC Capital Markets
Guggenheim

Investment advisory committee

David Brown

David Brown

Brown teaches fixed-income securities courses and is director of Master of Science in Finance program. His research focuses on real estate finance and the pricing of default risk in corporate bonds. He has been a visiting professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and served as an investment officer for NISA Investment Advisors.

Laurence Smith

Laurence Smith

Smith is chairman, chief investment officer and founding partner of Third Wave Global Investors, a registered investment advisor specializing in global macro strategies with $375 million AUM. From 1999 to 2003, he served as global chief investment officer of Credit Suisse Asset Management. In 2002, he simultaneously served as chief executive Officer of CSAM Americas. Smith holds a B.S. in business administration from the Warrington College of Business and an MBA in finance and international business from the University of California, Berkeley.

William Harrell, Jr.

William Harrell, Jr.

Harrell has been a principal of Capco Asset Management since its formation in 2002. Previously, he was a partner in Trenam Kemker, a Tampa law firm where he practiced business litigation. Harrell is a graduate of Duke University (BA 1989), Duke University School of Law (JD 1992) and the Warrington College of Business Administration (MBA 2004, with a concentration in Graham-Buffett Security Analysis), where he was first in his class.

Michael Smith

Michael Smith

Smith is managing director of Global Endowment Management, joining in 2010. Previously, he was chief investment officer of the University of Florida Investment Management Company, investment manager at DUMAC and director of research at Hewitt Investment Group. He graduated summa cum laude from Warrington College of Business with a B.S. in Finance and is a chartered financial analyst.

Canon Coleman

Canon Coleman

Coleman is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida. Previously, he served Invesco US as a small cap value team advisor, senior portfolio manager, and corporate associate, as well as a senior auditor at Deloitte. He graduated from The Wharton School of Business with an MBA and received both a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting at the Warrington College of Business.

Peter Gyle

Peter Gyle

Gylfe is senior portfolio manager at Millennium. Previously, he was managing director and co-founder of Bay Street Ventures, global equities at Citadel, portfolio manager at Hutchin Hill Capital, senior analyst at Balyasny Asset Management, analyst at Millennium, and investment banking analyst at Citi Bank. He graduated with his bachelor’s and master’s in finance from the Warrington College of Business. 

Paul Cutler

Paul Cutler

Cutler is the retired treasurer NextEra Energy and NextEra Energy Partners. Previously, he served as assistant treasurer for NextEra Energy and treasurer for NextEra Energy Resources. He joined Florida Power & Light Company in 1984 as a financial analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University, as well as a master’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami.

David Schamus

David Schamus

Schamus is a senior portfolio manager at Millennium focusing on the consumer sector. He joined in 2017. Previously, Schamus served as a sector head at Scopus Asset Management as well as a senior associate in the equity research department at Raymond James & Associates. He received his MBA from Emory University (‘07) and graduated with his B.S. in Finance (‘00) from the Warrington College of Business.

Marek Hornak

Marek Hornak

Hornak is an investor at Apax Partners, focusing on private equity buyouts in the technology space. He joined in 2025. Previously, Mr. Hornak served as an investment banking analyst at Evercore, where he focused on M&A advisory in the TMT industry. He also graduated with both his B.S. and M.S. from the Warrington College of Business, and was a portfolio manager of the Gator Student Investment Fund.

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