Wednesday Teaching: What We Can Learn from Debbie Schultz’s 2024 Portfolio (+142% Return)
Debbie Schultz, a U.S. Representative from Florida, made headlines in 2024 when her stock portfolio achieved an impressive +142% return. Her investment choices reflect a masterclass in strategic diversification, sector balance, and timing — a combination that helped her outperform many professional fund managers.
Inside the Portfolio
Debbie Schultz’s portfolio is an intriguing mix of gold and mining companies, healthcare giants, energy infrastructure plays, and innovative technology firms.
A large portion of her holdings went into gold-related investments, including New Gold (NGD) and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), which together made up almost a third of her total portfolio. This move turned out to be brilliant, as gold prices rose sharply during 2024 amid inflation and currency instability — serving as both a hedge and a profit driver.
She also took strong positions in healthcare stocks, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Baxter, and AngioDynamics. These provided steady dividends and consistent growth, offering a cushion of stability in case of market turbulence.
In the energy sector, she invested through Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure (KYN) and Matrix Service Company, which focus on oil, gas, and infrastructure projects. These stocks benefitted from increased government spending on energy transition and infrastructure renewal in the U.S.
Her technology exposure came from names like Perion Network, known for its digital advertising technology; Stratasys, a 3D printing company; and Ichor Holdings, which supplies semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Each of these companies represents a different segment of innovation — giving her portfolio long-term growth potential.
To round it off, she added Innovex, an industrial service company, and a few other smaller holdings, creating a well-balanced mix of growth and value investments.
Why This Portfolio Worked
1. Gold as a Shield: Her heavy investment in gold helped protect her portfolio from inflationary pressure and market corrections.
2. Defensive Healthcare: Healthcare stocks offered stable cash flow and acted as a safety net, ensuring her portfolio wasn’t overly volatile.
3. Energy Exposure: Energy infrastructure stocks gained from strong demand and government-backed projects.
4. Innovation for Growth: Her tech picks provided long-term upside, balancing the conservative holdings with a touch of boldness.
5. Perfect Diversification: She didn’t over-concentrate in one area. Each sector supported the other, creating resilience against market shocks.
Lessons for Nigerian Investors
• Diversify Intelligently: Don’t limit your portfolio to one sector. Blend stable, dividend-paying companies with growth-oriented ones.
• Include Defensive Stocks: Just like her healthcare holdings, add companies that do well even when markets slow down.
• Think Long-Term: Her tech and gold investments show patience — she bet on themes that play out over time.
• Use Commodities Wisely: Commodities like gold can be a hedge when inflation or currency volatility rise.
• Adapt and Rebalance: A good portfolio evolves. Review your holdings periodically to reflect new trends and risks.
Final Thought
Debbie Schultz’s 2024 portfolio wasn’t built on hype — it was built on strategy, balance, and conviction.
She positioned herself where stability meets innovation, and that blend produced extraordinary results. For every investor, her success is a reminder that you don’t need to chase the loudest stock in the room — you just need a well-thought-out mix that reflects both protection and potential.
Debbie Schultz, a U.S. Representative from Florida, made headlines in 2024 when her stock portfolio achieved an impressive +142% return. Her investment choices reflect a masterclass in strategic diversification, sector balance, and timing — a combination that helped her outperform many professional fund managers.
Inside the Portfolio
Debbie Schultz’s portfolio is an intriguing mix of gold and mining companies, healthcare giants, energy infrastructure plays, and innovative technology firms.
A large portion of her holdings went into gold-related investments, including New Gold (NGD) and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX), which together made up almost a third of her total portfolio. This move turned out to be brilliant, as gold prices rose sharply during 2024 amid inflation and currency instability — serving as both a hedge and a profit driver.
She also took strong positions in healthcare stocks, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Baxter, and AngioDynamics. These provided steady dividends and consistent growth, offering a cushion of stability in case of market turbulence.
In the energy sector, she invested through Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure (KYN) and Matrix Service Company, which focus on oil, gas, and infrastructure projects. These stocks benefitted from increased government spending on energy transition and infrastructure renewal in the U.S.
Her technology exposure came from names like Perion Network, known for its digital advertising technology; Stratasys, a 3D printing company; and Ichor Holdings, which supplies semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Each of these companies represents a different segment of innovation — giving her portfolio long-term growth potential.
To round it off, she added Innovex, an industrial service company, and a few other smaller holdings, creating a well-balanced mix of growth and value investments.
Why This Portfolio Worked
1. Gold as a Shield: Her heavy investment in gold helped protect her portfolio from inflationary pressure and market corrections.
2. Defensive Healthcare: Healthcare stocks offered stable cash flow and acted as a safety net, ensuring her portfolio wasn’t overly volatile.
3. Energy Exposure: Energy infrastructure stocks gained from strong demand and government-backed projects.
4. Innovation for Growth: Her tech picks provided long-term upside, balancing the conservative holdings with a touch of boldness.
5. Perfect Diversification: She didn’t over-concentrate in one area. Each sector supported the other, creating resilience against market shocks.
Lessons for Nigerian Investors
• Diversify Intelligently: Don’t limit your portfolio to one sector. Blend stable, dividend-paying companies with growth-oriented ones.
• Include Defensive Stocks: Just like her healthcare holdings, add companies that do well even when markets slow down.
• Think Long-Term: Her tech and gold investments show patience — she bet on themes that play out over time.
• Use Commodities Wisely: Commodities like gold can be a hedge when inflation or currency volatility rise.
• Adapt and Rebalance: A good portfolio evolves. Review your holdings periodically to reflect new trends and risks.
Final Thought
Debbie Schultz’s 2024 portfolio wasn’t built on hype — it was built on strategy, balance, and conviction.
She positioned herself where stability meets innovation, and that blend produced extraordinary results. For every investor, her success is a reminder that you don’t need to chase the loudest stock in the room — you just need a well-thought-out mix that reflects both protection and potential.