🏈 Top 10 Sports Stocks for 2025: Winning Picks for Sports Fans

At GLHR Investing, we’re serving up the top 10 sports-related stocks for fans who live and breathe competition, perfect for channeling your passion into profits. The sports industry, valued at $509 billion in 2025, is thriving with women’s sports, streaming, and tech innovation, even as Trump’s tariffs, 3% inflation, and a 60% recession risk shake the S&P 500 (SPY at $513.88, down 4.8% YTD). Whether you’re cheering for the WNBA or betting on eSports, these stocks—spanning apparel, media, betting, and team ownership—offer growth and income for sports enthusiasts. Here’s our analysis of the best sports stocks for 2025, why they’re hot, and how to play them in today’s economy.

Economic Context (May 28, 2025):
- Market Volatility: SPY’s 15.6% YTD drop and May’s 0.87% decline (VIX ~35) reflect tariff-driven uncertainty, with tech down 2% and defensive sectors (utilities, staples) up 1–2%, per prior analyses.
- Tariffs: Trump’s 25% Canada/Mexico and 125% China tariffs, with a 50% China threat (May 6), raise equipment and apparel costs, per prior analyses. The April 8 tariff pause (ends July 7) and U.S.-UK trade deal (May 8) provide temporary relief, per web data.
- Inflation and Rates: 3% inflation with 6.7% expectations and Fed rates at 4.25–4.5% (no cuts, per CME FedWatch) curb spending (down 13%), impacting ticket and merchandise sales, per prior analyses.
- Recession Risk: A 60% recession probability and -0.3% Q1 GDP growth signal caution, boosting defensive investments, per J.P. Morgan.
- Selection Criteria: Stocks chosen for high sports relevance (apparel, equipment, media, betting, teams), yields >1% where applicable, sustainable dividends (payout ratios <75%), and resilience to tariffs/recession, based on web data (e.g., Motley Fool, Sportico) and X posts.
Top 10 Sports Stocks for Sports Fans in 2025:
- Nike, Inc. (NKE):
  - Price: ~$70, Yield: 2.1%, YTD: Down 15% from ~$82 (May 2024), per prior analyses.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: The world’s largest athletic footwear and apparel brand, dominating basketball and running with Air Jordan and Nike SB, per web data. Sponsors global stars (e.g., LeBron James) and events (e.g., Olympics), per web data.
  - Why It’s Down: 80% of products from China face 54–125% tariffs, raising costs 5–10%, per web data. Consumer spending cuts (13%) hit demand, per prior analyses.
  - Investment Case: Trading at a 49% discount to fair value ($112), per Morningstar, with new CEO Elliott Hill rebuilding retailer ties, per web data. Sustainable dividends (payout ratio ~40%, $2 billion free cash flow), per Motley Fool.
  - Buy/Hold: Hold if owned for long-term brand strength; buy on dips near $65 for recovery by 2026, per prior analyses.
- The Walt Disney Company (DIS):
  - Price: ~$90, Yield: 1%, YTD: Flat, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns ESPN, streaming 59% of U.S. sports viewership (e.g., NFL, WNBA), per web data. ESPN Bet’s $2 billion deal with Penn Entertainment taps sports betting, per web data.
  - Why It’s Stable: Streaming growth offsets tariff risks, with women’s sports (WNBA up 170% viewership) driving revenue, per prior sports analysis.
  - Investment Case: Undervalued (forward P/E ~15), with Q4 2024 revenue up 5%, per web data. Stable dividends (payout ratio ~20%), per Morningstar.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy on dips near $85 for streaming and betting upside, per prior sports analysis.
- Comcast Corporation (CMCSA):
  - Price: ~$40, Yield: 3.1%, YTD: Down 5% from ~$42, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: NBC Sports covers Olympics, NFL, and women’s sports (e.g., NWSL), with Peacock streaming WWE, per web data. Strong live sports viewership, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Down: Tariff costs on broadcast equipment and spending cuts (13%) pressure margins, per web data.
  - Investment Case: Sustainable dividends (payout ratio ~50%, $10 billion free cash flow), per Motley Fool. Forward P/E ~10 signals undervaluation, per web data.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy for streaming and live sports growth, especially on dips near $38, per prior sports analysis.
- DraftKings Inc. (DKNG):
  - Price: ~$35, Yield: 0%, YTD: Up 10% from ~$32, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Leader in U.S. sports betting (43% FanDuel share via Flutter), with fantasy sports in NBA, NFL, and more, per web data. Legalized betting in 38 states drives growth, per web data.
  - Why It’s Up: Betting market growth (26% CAGR) and Latin American expansion offset tariff risks, per web data. Q4 2024 revenue up 20%, per web data.
  - Investment Case: High growth (30% revenue increase projected), but no dividends and volatility (P/E ~50) suit risk-tolerant fans, per Motley Fool.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy on dips near $30 for betting and fantasy upside, per web data.
- Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS):
  - Price: ~$200, Yield: 0%, YTD: Flat, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns the NBA’s Knicks and NHL’s Rangers, with $4.6 billion and $1.65 billion valuations, per web data. Hosts eSports and concerts, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Stable: High-value franchises in New York ensure revenue, but spending cuts (13%) limit ticket sales, per web data.
  - Investment Case: No dividends, but growth potential from live events (Q4 2024 revenue up 5%), per Forbes. P/E ~30 reflects premium valuation, per web data.
  - Buy/Hold: Hold if owned for event-driven upside; avoid buying at current levels due to valuation, per prior sports analysis.
- Amer Sports, Inc. (AS):
  - Price: ~$20, Yield: 0%, YTD: Up 115% since January 2024 IPO, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns Wilson (tennis, basketball), Salomon (skiing), and Arc’teryx (outdoor), tapping fitness trends, per web data. Strong in racket sports and winter sports, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Up: 20% revenue growth in 2024, with 50% sales gains in China, per web data. Domestic production mitigates tariffs, per Sportico.
  - Investment Case: High growth (market cap $10 billion), but volatility post-IPO requires caution, per web data. No dividends, per web data.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy on dips near $18 for fitness and outdoor exposure, per web data.
- Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (MODG):
  - Price: ~$10, Yield: 0%, YTD: Down 5% from ~$10.50, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns Callaway golf equipment, Odyssey putters, and Topgolf venues, per web data. Golf entertainment grows with Topgolf’s 90+ locations, per web data.
  - Why It’s Down: Tariff costs on equipment and post-COVID golf demand slowdown (Q4 2024 sales flat), per web data. Planned Topgolf spin-off adds uncertainty, per Motley Fool.
  - Investment Case: No dividends, but spin-off could unlock value by 2026, per web data. P/E ~15 suggests undervaluation, per web data.
  - Buy/Hold: Hold if owned for spin-off potential; buy on dips near $9 for golf recovery, per web data.
- Flutter Entertainment plc (FLUT):
  - Price: ~$220, Yield: 0%, YTD: Up 21% from ~$182, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns FanDuel, the U.S.’s top sports betting platform (43% market share), covering NFL, NBA, and more, per web data. Global betting brands (e.g., Betway) add diversity, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Up: Strong Q3 2024 revenue (20% growth) and Latin American betting trends, per Sportico. Minimal tariff impact, per web data.
  - Investment Case: High growth (P/E ~40), but no dividends. Betting market expansion supports upside, per Motley Fool.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy on dips near $200 for betting dominance, per web data.
- Manchester United plc (MANU):
  - Price: ~$15, Yield: 1.4%, YTD: Down 5% from ~$15.80, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Iconic English Premier League club with a $6.55 billion valuation, per web data. Global fanbase drives merchandise and media revenue, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Down: Transition under new stakeholder INEOS (Sir Jim Ratcliffe) and tariff costs on merchandise imports, per web data. Flat Q4 2024 revenue, per web data.
  - Investment Case: Modest dividend (payout ratio ~30%), but growth hinges on on-field success, per web data. P/E ~20 suggests fair value, per Forbes.
  - Buy/Hold: Hold if owned for long-term fanbase value; avoid buying until performance improves, per web data.
- Liberty Media Formula One (FWONK):
  - Price: ~$75, Yield: 0%, YTD: Up 10% from ~$68, per web data.
  - Why Sports Fans Love It: Owns Formula 1, the fastest-growing motorsport (20% revenue growth in 2024), per web data. F1’s global appeal (e.g., Las Vegas GP) drives media rights, per prior sports analysis.
  - Why It’s Up: F1’s expansion (new races, Netflix’s Drive to Survive) boosts revenue, with minimal tariff impact, per Sportico.
  - Investment Case: No dividends, but 10% of revenue from F1 supports growth (P/E ~30), per web data. Stable media income, per Forbes.
  - Buy/Hold: Buy on dips near $70 for F1’s global surge, per web data.
Investor Considerations:
- Why These Stocks Appeal to Sports Fans:
  - Passion Meets Profit: Stocks like NKE, DIS, and MANU let fans invest in brands and teams they love, from Air Jordan to the Knicks, per web data.
  - Growth Potential: Women’s sports (WNBA up 170%), betting (26% CAGR), and streaming (59% Prime growth) drive revenue, per prior sports analysis.
  - Resilience: Sports’ cultural significance (3.3 billion fans) and defensive traits (e.g., DIS, CMCSA) withstand recession risks, per web data.
- Economic Challenges:
  - Tariff Risks: NKE and MODG face 10–20% cost hikes from tariffs, per J.P. Morgan. Domestic-focused DIS, VZ, and FLUT are less exposed, per prior analyses.
  - Recession Impact: 13% spending cuts and 60% recession risk may reduce ticket and merchandise sales, per prior analyses. Betting (DKNG, FLUT) and streaming (DIS, CMCSA) are more resilient, per web data.
  - High Valuations: VST (165% above fair value) and FLUT (P/E ~40) carry premium risks, per Morningstar.
- Investment Strategy:
  - Buy: DIS, CMCSA, DKNG, FLUT, and FWONK for growth in streaming, betting, and motorsports, per web data. VZ and PFE for high-yield stability, per prior analyses. Target dips (e.g., DIS <$85) for value, per Trade That Swing.
  - Hold: NKE, MSGS, and MANU for long-term brand strength, but wait for tariff clarity or price drops, per Motley Fool. MODG for spin-off potential, per web data.
  - Allocation: Allocate 5–10% to sports stocks, balancing growth (DKNG, FLUT) and income (VZ, CMCSA), with 3–5% in gold (GLD, +3%) or utilities (XLU, +1%) to hedge volatility, per prior analyses.
  - Timing: Buy on SPY dips near $500, per Trade That Swing. Dollar-cost average to manage VIX (~35), per Schwab.
  - Monitor: June 17–18 FOMC meeting, May 30 PCE inflation, U.S.-China trade talks, and women’s sports viewership (e.g., WNBA), per NerdWallet. Track F1 races and betting data, per X posts.
- Risks:
  - Tariff escalations (July 7) could raise costs 10–20%, hitting NKE and MODG, per J.P. Morgan.
  - A 60% recession risk may curb event spending, per prior analyses.
  - Regulatory shifts (e.g., betting, merchandise imports) could impact DKNG and FLUT, per web data.
Why It Matters: The sports industry’s $509 billion market in 2025, fueled by women’s sports, streaming, and betting, offers fans a chance to invest in their passion. Despite SPY’s 15.6% YTD drop and tariff volatility, stocks like Disney (+1% yield), DraftKings (43% betting share), and Nike (leader in athletic apparel) provide growth and income for sports enthusiasts. With a 60% recession risk, selective buys and holds balance risk and reward. At GLHR Investing, we’re here to help you score big, aligning your portfolio with the sports world’s unstoppable momentum.