Manchester United (NYSE:MANU) watch its shares rally Friday, following reports earlier in the week that it was considering strategic options, including a possible sale.
Manchester United Shares jumped 14.7% Tuesday and rocketed 25.8% on Wednesday.
Still, some, including the Motley Fools, are expressing their doubts.
For one thing, while "strategic alternatives" probably implies a for-sale sign, management cautions that "there can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in any transaction involving the Company," nor is there a guarantee that any sale will be at a price higher than what Manchester United stock fetches today. For that matter, management may decide not to sell at all, but simply attract new investment into the company -- investment that would probably be dilutive to existing shareholders.
“Also worth considering” says the ‘Fool’s’ story, “is the reason Manchester United might feel it needs new investment, to wit, the fact that the company has lost money in four of the past five years -- and indeed, according to analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, is expected to keep on losing money for at least the next three years.
“Simply put, as a stock, Manchester United has long been a loser. If I were you, I'd think long and hard before deciding to pay 30% more than the stock cost on Monday to own it.”
MANU shares hiked Friday morning by $1.76 or 9.4%, to $20.56
