The Happy Accident: How I Found a Hidden Gem (and Broke All the Rules)

Let me tell you a story that falls squarely into the category of "I made a good mistake." It involves a disappointing golf brand, a tired Monday night drive, and a typo that led me to a fantastic industrial stock.

This is a confession, a case study, and a warning, all rolled into one. NEVER DO THIS. Unless, of course, you get lucky like I did.

The Initial Disappointment (The Wrong Stock)

On December 28, 2024, I decided to check on a stock I owned that hadn't been performing well. My research had initially been swayed by a tip from Merrill Lynch: Topgolf Callaway Brands (symbol MODG), the company behind golf equipment and those impressive, illuminated Topgolf driving ranges popping up near expressways.

The story seemed sound—lots of people practicing their swing after work, visible real estate, good brand recognition. So, I bought some.

The result? It was a disappointment. The stock was stagnant, and my investment was going nowhere.

The Fateful Typo (The Right Stock)

Frustrated with Callaway, I went to look up the ticker again. In a moment of absentmindedness, I only typed in MOD before hitting "Enter" in my brokerage account.

I landed on Modine Manufacturing (symbol MOD), an entirely different company.

I looked at the chart for Modine Manufacturing. It was far superior to Callaway's. I had never heard of it. I must admit, I couldn't find much readily available research on it, but given my frustration with Callaway, I decided to take a chance on the new symbol.

I sold Callaway and bought Modine.

Warning: I broke a cardinal rule of investing: never buy what you haven't researched thoroughly. As the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn. I was definitely blessed this time.

The Surprise Winner: Modine Manufacturing

On that day, I bought 25 shares at $60.74 a share, investing $1,518.50. We usually advocate buying just a few shares at a time to watch how it does, but in my rash moment, I bought my entire initial holding in one go.

I broke at least two of our key rules:

1. I didn't have a full research report.

2. I bought my entire position in one fell swoop (meaning if it had fallen to its last low of around $34, I wouldn't have had cash left to purchase more).

But it worked out.

Modine, based in Racine, Wisconsin, is over 100 years old and originated in the automotive segment. Today, they are a global leader in heat exchangers with products in demand all over the world, including facilities in the UK.

As of this writing (Labor Day, 2025), the stock ended the session at $136.17. My small, accidental investment has more than doubled in value in less than a year.

Why I'm Holding On (The Fundamental Lesson)

Even though Modine doesn't pay a dividend and I bought it entirely by chance, I’m holding on. My mistake forced me to discover a company with a powerful, growing fundamental story: Data Centers and AI.

Modine is currently working to provide data center solutions for the specialized heat exchangers needed in these massive facilities. Rows upon rows of servers crunching data generate significant heat, and Modine is uniquely positioned to address this critical need.

That the stock has more than doubled is no reason to sell or to stop buying. Companies whose stock is rising can continue that trend for decades. While Modine won't create a chart like Costco's, we expect that the continuous growth of AI and data centers, plus its many other industrial applications, will continue to provide very good results.

My hope is that when I need money, I can sell Modine years into the future, having built a robust financial foundation—all thanks to a happy typo.

The real takeaway: Invest based on conviction and research, but always keep your eyes open for new opportunities that a rising tide (like the AI boom) can lift!