Continue reading Tom Brady Spurns Nike for Under Armour

Tom Brady Spurns Nike for Under Armour originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So, I am not much of a soccer fan. I far prefer football to soccer (you know, having played and coached football). That said, I was sucked into the World Cup thanks to national pride. I watched the U.S. lose to Ghana and beat Algeria; but I also watched the referee blow a call against Slovenia, forcing the game into a tie.

I said, I am not a huge soccer fan; but it sure seems that this World Cup is fraught with refereeing problems.

Continue reading JockStocks: The World Cup and Video Replay

JockStocks: The World Cup and Video Replay originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Indians ask court to revoke Washington Redskins trademark

Indians ask court to revoke Washington Redskins trademark originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Way back when there was this idea called the United States Football League. It had a few good years and a few big names (Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker, and Reggie White) before it failed. Then there was the World League of American Football, featuring teams across the U.S., but no true big-name players. Eventually the World League became just that, with expansion into Europe and the moniker NFL Europe;then that league failed.

Then there was the once-popular Arena League, which boasted Kurt Warner and owners like Jon Bon Jovi. The Arena League lasted nearly 20 years before it took last season off and appears ready to fade into oblivion. Oh, and let's not forget the Extreme Football League (XFL), run by Vince McMahon (of WWE fame). I mean who can forget "He Hate Me?" This terrible business decision lasted one season (and I was suckered into an XFL fantasy league).

Continue reading JockStocks: Is the United Football League destined for failure?

JockStocks: Is the United Football League destined for failure? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Solid performance in the earnings spotlight from Under Armour (NYSE: UA), as the company reported a surprising profit of three cents per share. Under Armour's earnings topped the consensus estimate for a loss of two cents per share and matched the company's year-ago results. Quarterly revenue increased to $164.6 million from $156.7 million a year ago.

The results were driven by a 16.5% increase ($112 million) in clothing revenue, which compensated for an 18.4% drop ($37.5 million) in footwear from a year ago. Looking ahead, Under Armour forecast 2009 earnings between 80 and 82 cents per share, better than the consensus estimate for earnings of 79 cents per share. As far as revenue is concerned, the Maryland-based firm expects $810 million compared to $804.9 from the Street.

Continue reading Under Armour turns apparel into performance in the second quarter

Under Armour turns apparel into performance in the second quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that the Arena Football League is "closing in on a new collective bargaining agreement with its players union. The new deal, expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, is likely to cut the players' share of revenues substantially. But without the change, owners were not willing to revive the operation."

The AFL canceled the 2009 season back in December because of financial issues and at the time, there was talk about moving single-entity ownership structure -- where one investor group would own the league and all its teams. If the Wall Street Journal report is correct, the league looks like it will be able to hang on without such a draconian move.

Continue reading Arena Football League could be on its way back

Arena Football League could be on its way back originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One billion people will be watching the Super Bowl, but 5.7 billion others couldn't care less. In the United States, we love football -- the rest of the world, loves futbol (soccer).

Grupo Televisa SA (NYSE: TV) produces television channels that reach subscribers in 60 countries throughout Latin America, the United States (via Univision), Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific.

This company won't be blinded by the Super Bowl hype.

Last year, TV yanked NFL games, including the Super Bowl, off the air in Mexico for the whole season after a 35-year run because they felt they were overpaying for the broadcast rights. The NFL felt the Latin heat and entered into new deal terms for the season that began in September 2008.

TV has shown steady revenue and earnings growth during the past several years and is expected to keep growing through 2010. With its advantageous market position and growth characteristics, it is trading at a P/E of about 12.

Ay, caramba!

Nick Atkeson and Andrew Houghton are contributors to OptionsZone.com.

Five winning Super Bowl trades: III. Buy Grupo Televisa SA (TV) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Kansas City Star reports that the Arena Football League will cancel its 2009 season. Pete Likens, the director of communications for the Kansas City Brigade, told the newspaper that the players union agreed to the move last night and the owners will hold a final vote later today: "It's pretty much a done deal to suspend the 2009 season and work toward a single entity-league. We plan to start up again in 2010."

In 2006, the league sold a stake to ESPN and hoped that the increased television time would put it on solid financial footing, but clearly that didn't happen. The AFL had reportedly been working on a deal to sell a 40% stake to a private equity firm back in October in exchange for $100 million, but that didn't happen. The league has been without a commissioner since July.

The league has apparently decided that its survival will depend on a transition to a single-entity ownership structure, where a small group of investors own the league as a whole. Currently, the league is operated similar to the way the NFL is, with individual franchisees owning each team.

Bored NFL fans will now have to find something more productive to do with their summers.

Arena Football League set to suspend operations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown sues Electronic Arts and Sony originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Investing in Euro 2008 (and Swiss punctuality)

Investing in Euro 2008 (and Swiss punctuality) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 May 2008 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Imagine that you were only allowed to watch one sport on television for a whole year. Worse yet, imagine that you had to choose between two very popular sports all by yourself. The choice is up to you. Which will it be, NASCAR or the NFL? Will you select the gridiron wars or the need for speed? I shudder just at the thought of having to make such a life-altering choice.

On the one hand, I revel in the bone-crunching, close contact rivalries that play out every week on those hundred yard fields. The talent, the strategy, the sheer brutality of it. On the other hand, horsepower runs in my blood. The tension is palpable when watching those precisely tuned cars fighting for inches of superiority at the hands of fearless drivers. How could I choose between the pavement or the mud? How unfair would that be?

Continue reading Battle of the Brands: NASCAR vs. the NFL

Battle of the Brands: NASCAR vs. the NFL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 May 2008 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Since inception, the League's finances have been indirectly tied to the $300 billion federally guaranteed student loan asset backed securities market. [...] Every effort is being made to insure that the '08 season will be played as planned, but this depends upon a locating new majority owner with the needed liquidity [...] Otherwise, the inaugural season will be postponed to '09.

Subprime claims a new victim: football? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Live Nation: A key player with music players

Live Nation: A key player with music players originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With weather forecasts predicting frigid conditions for this weekend's NFC championship game at Lambeau Field, here are two stocks that are sure to warm up the shirtless Packer fans.

China Water and Drinks (NASDAQ: CWDK) is China's leading supplier of bottled water. Obviously for football fans, this water will be used to make piping hot coffee to drink at the game. The company is growing very quickly, and while other high-flying Chinese stocks have gotten slam-dunked, CWDK is actually trading up 50% YTD.

Maybe the shirtless faithful should take a trip to the nearest mall and go shopping at American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO). American Eagle has gotten hit along with the rest of the retail sector, but the company sports a P/E of 10.4, a PEG of just 0.74, and a nice little dividend of 2.1%. With the expected economic pick-up in second half '08, retailers should benefit, and American Eagle is well poised to help investors profit as well.

Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. Disclosure: Writer has no position long or short in any stock mentioned as of 1/18/08.

Two stocks hot enough to warm fans at Lambeau originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With New Year's in a few days, everyone is busy making their resolutions. The most popular of all New Year's resolutions is the need to lose weight. So with that in mind, here are two stocks that could benefit from weight-loss resolutions.

Nike (NYSE: NKE) engages in the design, development, and marketing of footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products worldwide. You can't start your exercise program without going out and buying a pair of shoes, and a sweat suit. The stock is trading just off their all time high and with a P/E of about 19 the stock look attractive. With '08 being an Olympic year, Nike is sure to benefit from all the exposure. With its recent 19.9% purchase of the UK Umbro, Nike looks to grow its European business, which has been growing strongly anyway. Expect Nike to continue moving higher in '08.

Continue reading Losing weight in 2008? Check into these stocks

Losing weight in 2008? Check into these stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The stories about Max are also of legendary status. Known as a "social" gentleman, Max was out all night before the Super Bowl, thinking he would not play even one down, as he was winding down his illustrious career. Early into the first quarter, the starting wide receiver separated his shoulder. Coach Vince Lombardi screamed, "McGee, get your %^& in there!!!" Having forgotten his own helmet in the locker room, Max borrowed a teammate's and went on to catch seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns: the game of his life. He should have been named the MVP of the game, but back then, those awards went to quarterbacks. Max McGee forever cemented in the hearts of pro football fans, one of the gutsiest and greatest performances in NFL history. Max McGee went on to a very successful business career as a principal partner launching the Mexican restaurant chain Chi Chi's. Max was also the radio voice of the Green Bay Packers from 1979-1998.

That part of Max is all well-documented and known. What I want to share, as his next-door neighbor, is the stuff of real legend -- the private Max McGee, the extremely generous Max McGee.

Continue reading Packer legend Max McGee: A different perspective

Packer legend Max McGee: A different perspective originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nike (NYSE: NKE) is buying British shoe company Umbro for just under $600 million. It does not seem to be a very big deal for the world's largest athletic apparel company, but Nike may be running out of new markets to attack.

Umbro soccer-related apparel, footwear and equipment is sold in more than 90 countries, according to CNNMoney. The news site indicates that the deal was backed by the Football Association, the governing body for English soccer.

A look at the Nike product line may provide a glimpse into the value of the deal.

Nike has a big footprint in running and basketball shoes. It also has a number of products for track, tennis, and golf along with its own line of soccer footwear. The company has diversified into clothing and equipment including watches, glasses, and golf balls.

To put it simply, Nike, with $4.7 billion in revenue last quarter, may be running out of markets for easy growth. Buying a company with an established niche in a market may be a faster way to get in than trying to go it alone.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Nike pushes deeper into soccer business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NFL in London: Will Europe embrace 'real' football? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Having established yourself as a fantasy football guru, are you interested in trying out your talents with your very own NFL franchise?

Well according to a Forbes Special Report, the average NFL team would set you back $957 million. By contrast, only one Major League Baseball team is valued above that -- The New York Yankees at 1.026 billion. No other team is worth more than $617 million. The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team in sports, worth an estimated $1.5 billion.

The value of the NFL's television deals remains huge, with 75% of Americans saying they watched a game on TV last season. NFL teams are also the most profitable sports franchises, perhaps driven by the league's cost controls that some would deride as anti-competitive.

Seeing the value these teams have, entrepreneurs including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban are exploring the possibility of setting up a new football league to rival the NFL.

On his blog, he has written that the NFL "not designed for a competitive environment. Competition for top players, even if the UFL gets just a few, increases prices at the top end for all teams. Every star will get paid more, but still have to fit under the cap. That forces teams to use more low cost players, at the expense of signing the middle of the roster. That gives us access to quite a few very, very good NFL players ..."

As long as there's no competition, the NFL's value is huge. But will its structure and salary cap system make it vulnerable to a well-funded upstart?

NFL team's average value? $957 million! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Full Disclosure: I was a huge Joe Montana fan back in his glory days with the 49ers, and I still have a huge poster of him on the wall in a closet.

Joe Montana's place as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time is secure but, sadly, the same cannot be said about his skills as a hedge fund honcho. According to a piece in The New York Post, "HRJ Capital, a California investment firm that counts the Hall of Fame quarterback on its roster, saw almost all of the gains ratcheted up so far this year at one of its hedge funds get wiped out as the housing crisis tackled the markets."

The fund of funds (a hedge fund that invests in other hedge funds) lost 12.3% in the first two weeks of August because of investments in hedge funds that had subprime exposure. Montana also has a couple former teammates with him at the firm, Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton.

Should investors in his fund be worried? Of course not! This is Super Joe! The Comeback Kid!

I wonder if he owns HanesBrands (NYSE: HBI), which plastered Montana's face all over television commercials in the early 1990s, and paid him a nice endorsement fee.

Joe Montana's hedge fund has a bad month originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.