Belmont’s Investment Club Takes First Place in TVA Investment Challenge

Student-led investments outperform largest publicly traded companies in the U.S.

Belmont’s equity trading club secured a first-place finish in the 2026 Tennessee Valley Authority Investment Challenge, delivering a market-leading return through a student-managed, real-money investment portfolio. 

Over 10,000 students manage half-a-million-dollar portfolios on behalf of TVA at universities across the Tennessee Valley each year, gaining hands-on experience in equity research, portfolio strategy and real-time market decision-making. The top performing equity trading clubs are recognized at an annual two-day conference in Nashville.   

For finance senior Ava Muyner, Belmont’s triumph over 26 other schools stands as a crowning achievement of her time at the University. She has participated in the club for two years, joining in 2024.  

“One of the most impactful elements of my university experience has been opportunities to apply the skills we learn in the classroom to real world scenarios,” said Muyner. “This experience has grown my confidence tremendously in researching, analyzing and pitching companies. After finishing near the bottom of the conference last year, turning it all around to claim the number one position in just twelve months was something none of us saw coming.”  

Belmont’s club generated an overall 15.42% profit, exceeding the index by more than 14%. Belmont also won a $13,666 Performance Award for its superior portfolio management throughout the year. 

Real-World Investing, Real Stakes 

TVA’s Investment Challenge Program is one of the nation’s largest student investment programs, providing hands-on portfolio management experience to students and preparing them for careers in finance. 

In the club, Belmont students assume positions as analysts, sector heads and a president. They pitch stock and make collective decisions on where to invest the money sponsored by TVA.  

Finance sophomore Ben Blankinship started his term as president this year — an uncommon appointment for an underclassman. As president, he actively makes trades and keeps the club updated on the performance of its investments. 

“It’s been a huge learning curve for me, but it’s a lot of fun,” Blankinship said. “I’m learning more every day. The market changes constantly. We are all doing stock research and keeping up to date with the market. You don’t have to know anything to be in the club or be an analyst. You just have to be interested in it.” 

Outperforming the Market  

Belmont’s TVA Investment Club gives students the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom — applying their knowledge in real time with real stakes. In 2025, their student-led research, strategy and investing outperformed the S&P 500, which tracks the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. 

"This win is a testament to the analytical rigor and collaborative spirit of our students," said faculty advisor John Gonas. "They aren't just studying the markets; they are successfully navigating them."