Featured Story
Alex Pettee '09 Launches Fund on NYSE
For the past few springs, Alex Pettee '09 has coached St. Luke's baseball, appearing on the field just as he did every year he attended school here. This year was different, though, as his attentions were taken by the exciting and all-encompassing launch of a new start-up company, Hoya Capital Housing ETF (ticker: HOMZ). Like its parent company Hoya Capital Real Estate, HOMZ offers a way to make real estate more accessible to all investors.
Launched on the New York Stock Exchange this past March, HOMZ is a unique fund in the ETF market, investing in companies that cross traditional classifications and represent all aspects of the residential real estate market, from builders and financiers to decorators and roofers. Unlike mutual funds or direct real estate investing, HOMZ has a minimum investment of just a single share, currently trading around $25, and is available on nearly every brokerage platform.
Alex vividly remembers Mr. Chuhta's science classes, Mr. Bisson's creative writing course, Mr. Foley's economics class, and Mrs. Spencer's statistics course, and of course the eight years of baseball beginning in 5th grade with the late Mr. Decatur. Alex is grateful for the solid foundation that he received at St. Luke's: "I think I speak for many alumni when I say that the leadership, communication, and entrepreneurial skills that are naturally interwoven into the curriculum are no doubt a significant factor in our early careers."
After graduating from St. Luke's, Alex received his undergraduate degree in Finance and master’s degree in Real Estate Finance from Georgetown University in 2013 and 2014 respectively, where he also played on the baseball team. Click here to read Georgetown’s article about Alex and HOMZ.
Alex is planning the official opening bell ringing for the new fund at the NYSE in September 2019 and hopes that many St. Luke’s alumni, parents, and students will be in attendance at the NYSE for the Investor Day event and reception to follow.
We wish Alex the best of luck in these first months of HOMZ!
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
