Industry Overview - The Leisure and Recreation Services industry is experiencing growth due to optimized business processes, consistent partnerships, and digital initiatives [1] - Strong demand for concerts, easing trade tensions, and robust bookings for cruise operators are supporting the industry [1][2] Cruise Industry - The cruise industry is benefiting from strong demand and increasing booking volumes, with solid pricing and onboard spending contributing positively [3] - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is raising its full-year 2025 guidance due to sustained demand strength and operational efficiency [5][6] - CCL has an expected revenue growth rate of 5.4% and earnings growth rate of 38% for the current year [6] Theme Park Industry - The theme park industry is also seeing robust demand, with operators benefiting from improved visitation [3] Company Highlights - **Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL)**: Zacks Rank 2, benefiting from increased booking volumes and onboard revenues, with a P/E ratio of 15.1X compared to the industry average of 21.7X [5][7] - **Manchester United plc (MANU)**: Zacks Rank 1, expected revenue growth of 9.6% and earnings growth of 56.6% for the current year, with a potential upside of 50.1% from current brokerage targets [10][12][13] - **The Marcus Corporation (MCS)**: Zacks Rank 2, engaged in lodging and entertainment, with expected revenue growth of 5.2% and earnings growth of over 100% for the current year [14][15] - **Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS)**: Zacks Rank 2, expected revenue growth of 6.5% and earnings growth of over 100% for the current year, with a potential price target increase of 24.8% [18][20] - **Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Inc. (PRSU)**: Zacks Rank 1, expected revenue growth of 6.2% and earnings growth of 11% for the next year, with a potential price target increase of 44.4% [22][23][24]

Group 1 - Manchester United (MANU) shares have increased by 19.7% in the past four weeks, closing at $16.99, with a mean price target of $21.97 indicating a potential upside of 29.3% [1][2] - The average price targets range from a low of $16.90 to a high of $26.00, with a standard deviation of $4.64, suggesting variability in analyst estimates [2][9] - Analysts have shown a strong consensus in revising earnings estimates higher, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 79.9% over the past month [11][12] Group 2 - MANU holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates [13] - The correlation between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements supports the expectation of an upside in MANU [11][14] - While price targets may not be reliable indicators of actual stock price movements, they can provide a directional guide for potential price changes [10][14]

Group 1 - Al Hilal, the only Asian team in the tournament, achieved a surprising victory over Manchester City with a score of 4-3, advancing to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup [1][2] - Manchester City was the only team to maintain a perfect record in the group stage, while Al Hilal was the only Asian team to reach the Round of 16 [1] - The match featured several lead changes, with Al Hilal equalizing and then taking the lead twice before securing the win in extra time [2] Group 2 - Al Hilal's coach, Inzaghi, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing their strong will and deserving victory against a formidable opponent [2] - Manchester City's coach, Guardiola, acknowledged the need to learn from the defeat, noting the high level of play from Al Hilal while also recognizing his team's performance [2] - Al Hilal will face Fluminense in the quarter-finals, who eliminated Inter Milan with a score of 2-0 in their Round of 16 match [2]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Manchester United (MANU) - Manchester United currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for solid momentum investing [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting strong performance expectations [3] Price Performance - Over the past week, MANU shares increased by 0.7%, while the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry rose by 2.13% [5] - In a longer timeframe, MANU's monthly price change is 36.55%, significantly outperforming the industry's 2.82% [5] - Over the past quarter, MANU shares have increased by 46.87%, and by 19.35% over the last year, compared to the S&P 500's gains of 6.01% and 13.18%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for MANU is 383,856 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - Recent earnings estimate revisions for MANU show one upward revision and no downward revisions, improving the consensus estimate from -$0.74 to -$0.38 over the past 60 days [9] - For the next fiscal year, there has been one upward estimate revision with no downward changes [9] Conclusion - Considering the positive price trends, trading volume, and earnings outlook, MANU is positioned as a 1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B, making it a compelling option for near-term investment [11]

Core Viewpoint - Manchester United (MANU) is highlighted as a strong investment opportunity due to its recent earnings beat and consistent performance in exceeding market expectations [1]. Company Overview - Manchester United PLC operates a professional sports team, managing the Manchester United Football Club and its associated activities, including media, foundation, fan engagement, and merchandise [2]. Earnings History - The company has achieved four consecutive earnings beats against the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with an average positive earnings surprise of 56% over the past year [4]. - The latest earnings report showed a loss of -$0.04, significantly better than the consensus estimate of -$0.33, resulting in a positive earnings surprise of 87.5% [4]. Earnings Estimates Revisions - Earnings estimates for Manchester United have been revised upward, with the full year 2025 estimate improving from -$0.74 to -$0.38 over the last 30 days [5]. - For 2026, estimates have also increased from -$0.82 to -$0.17 during the same period [5].

Core Viewpoint - Manchester United (MANU) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which are a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Ratings - The Zacks rating system is solely based on a company's changing earnings picture, tracking the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS from sell-side analysts [2]. - The Zacks rating upgrade for Manchester United reflects an improvement in its earnings outlook, which is expected to positively impact its stock price [3][5]. Impact of Earnings Estimate Revisions - There is a strong correlation between changes in earnings estimates and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system valuable for investors [4][6]. - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. Specifics on Manchester United - For the fiscal year ending June 2025, Manchester United is expected to earn -$0.38 per share, unchanged from the previous year, but analysts have raised their estimates by 48.6% over the past three months [8]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places Manchester United in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Group 1 - Manchester United (MANU) closed at $17.01, with an 18% gain over the past four weeks, and a mean price target of $21.97 suggests a 29.2% upside potential [1] - The mean estimate includes three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $4.64, indicating variability among analysts; the lowest estimate is $16.90 (0.7% decline), while the highest is $26 (52.9% increase) [2] - Analysts show strong agreement in revising earnings estimates higher, with a 48.7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year, indicating potential upside for the stock [12][11] Group 2 - The Zacks Rank for MANU is 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, suggesting a strong potential for near-term upside [13] - While price targets are often viewed as a metric for investment decisions, they can mislead investors; analysts may set overly optimistic targets due to business incentives [7][8] - A low standard deviation in price targets indicates a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price movement, which can serve as a starting point for further research [9]

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Financial Performance - Manchester United reported a quarterly loss of $0.04 per share, significantly better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.33, and an improvement from a loss of $0.31 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of 87.88% [1] - The company posted revenues of $202.17 million for the quarter ended March 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.15%, but showing an increase from year-ago revenues of $173.36 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, Manchester United has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times, but has only topped consensus revenue estimates once [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Manchester United shares have declined approximately 20.4% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 1% [3] - The company's future stock performance will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and the earnings outlook [4][6] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.25 on revenues of $210.02 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$0.74 on revenues of $842.59 million [7] Industry Context - The Leisure and Recreation Services industry, to which Manchester United belongs, is currently ranked in the top 38% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Core Viewpoint - Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes faces a crucial decision regarding his future, with Al Hilal from the Saudi Pro League offering an attractive contract that requires a response within 72 hours [1][3]. Contract Offer - Al Hilal has presented Fernandes with a three-year contract worth up to £200 million, with a weekly salary of £700,000, which is four times his current salary at Manchester United [3]. - Fernandes' current pre-tax weekly salary at Manchester United is £300,000, but after a 50% tax deduction, his take-home pay is significantly lower than the offer from Al Hilal [3]. Transfer Dynamics - Fernandes' agent has been in multiple negotiations with Al Hilal's management, and the club is prepared to make a £100 million bid to Manchester United if Fernandes agrees to the contract [3]. - Following Manchester United's recent loss in the Europa League final, Fernandes indicated he would not oppose a transfer if the club is willing to sell him [3]. Club's Position - Manchester United is reportedly ready to sell players this summer, including Fernandes, to raise funds estimated at £2 billion for a new stadium project [3]. - The club's owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, aims to use the proceeds from player sales for this initiative [3]. Fan Reactions - Manchester United fans have mixed opinions on selling Fernandes, with some believing it would weaken the team, while others see it as a potential high-value transaction given his age [4]. - Neutral perspectives suggest that while Fernandes is a talented player, his transfer value should guide the decision on whether to sell him [4]. Manager's Stance - Manchester United's head coach, Ruben Amorim, insists that the club should do everything possible to retain Fernandes, emphasizing his importance as a leader and core player [6]. - Amorim highlighted Fernandes' experience and leadership, particularly in challenging situations, as vital for the team's future [6]. Current Activities - Fernandes is currently participating in Manchester United's Asian tour, valued at £8 million, which includes stops in Malaysia and Hong Kong [7]. - If Fernandes transfers to Al Hilal, he may play his farewell match in Hong Kong before joining the Portuguese national team for upcoming matches [7].