WSU wins stock duel

Washington State University edged the University of Idaho to win The Spokesman-Review’s stock-picking contest.

The Cougar team’s portfolio of five regional stocks fell by 4.1 percent over the course of the first quarter. The UI team’s portfolio declined by 5 percent.

The two Palouse universities weren’t alone in posting a lackluster quarter. Nationally, as investors tried to balance promising economic news against high oil prices, both the Dow and the S&P fell 2.59 percent, while the Nasdaq declined 8.10 percent.

Each team selected five companies from The Spokesman- Review’s list of regional stocks, then the stock prices were tracked over the quarter. One substitution was allowed he end of each month.

WSU’s portfolio included Starbucks, Amazon.com — which the team substituted with Goodrich Corp. at the end of January — Sterling Financial, Nordstrom and Labor Ready.

UI chose Alcoa, US Bancorp, Coldwater Creek, Ambassadors Group and Safeco. In the final tally, UI was given credit for an additional half-share of Coldwater Creek because the Sandpoint-based retailer announced a 3-for-2 stock split during the quarter.

As the winner of the first-quarter contest, WSU’s team will receive t-shirts pronouncing them 1Q05 Champions, but don’t cry for UI — they’ll get Spokesman-Review coffee mugs.