Ariel Fund's Updates on Manchester United Plc (MANU)

Ariel Investments, an investment management company, released its “Ariel Fund” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S equities rallied in the third quarter, driven by the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut of the year, strong corporate earnings, and broadening market participation. The continued enthusiasm for AI led to outsized gains in technology, while small caps outperformed as capital shifted into undervalued segments of the market. Against this backdrop, Ariel Fund returned +12.39% in the quarter, surpassing the Russell 2500 Value Index’s +8.17% return and lagging behind the Russell 2000 Value Index’s +12.60% gain. For more information on the fund’s top picks in 2025, please check its top five holdings.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Ariel Fund highlighted stocks such as Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU). Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) is a professional sports team in the United Kingdom. The one-month return of Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) was 19.86%, and its shares gained 15.73% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On October 23, 2025, Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) stock closed at $18.47 per share, with a market capitalization of $3.185 billion.

Ariel Fund stated the following regarding Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Lastly, professional football (soccer) club operator Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) fell during the quarter despite reporting strong fundamentals. The Club delivered better-than-expected top and bottom-line results and raised its full-year outlook, reflecting the benefits of ongoing cost efficiency initiatives. Strategic investments continue, including the redevelopment of the Carrington Training Complex to enhance player and staff facilities. Discussions are also underway regarding a potential new stadium to support long-term growth in the Old Trafford area. We believe MANU is well-positioned to capitalize on its global brand, driving revenue expansion, attracting top talent, and strengthening its competitive edge. The Club’s commercial opportunities across partnerships, sponsorships, and media rights remain compelling, supporting an attractive near- and long-term outlook."

Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 21 hedge fund portfolios held Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) at the end of the second quarter, up from 18 in the previous quarter.  While we acknowledge the potential of Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) and shared billionaire Leon Cooperman’s stock picks with huge upside potential. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.