What is the NFL’s stock price, and is it publicly traded? Unfortunately, investors cannot purchase shares of the NFL because they are a private company. However, DraftKings (NASDAQ: $DKNG), Walt Disney (NYSE: $DIS), Nike (NYSE: $NKE), and PepsiCo (NASDAQ: $PEP) are a few related stock symbols that traders can consider for investment.
If you’re a sports fan like me, the fall is the best time of the year! Major League Baseball playoffs are in full swing, college basketball and football are starting up, and the NHL and NBA have new seasons, but of course, best of all, the NFL is back. So, as the dog days of summer approach, NFL teams return to training camp to prepare for a new season.
Is NFL Publicly Traded?
Just like with the NBA, the NFL is privately owned and operated. It is not a publicly traded company and won’t be anytime soon. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t invest in companies associated with the NFL. The NFL is a global sports juggernaut that has a significant impact on many other industries. So, just because you can’t buy shares of the NFL doesn’t mean you can’t invest in it!
If you want to buy NFL stock, consider some of these companies on our list. They may not be the first stocks you think of, but they generate significant revenue from the NFL product.
You can buy these instead since you can’t trade stock in the NFL. They say money breeds more money, so it’s unsurprising that a money-making machine like the NFL has some lucrative partners!
NFL Revenue and Financial Overview
| Year | Estimated Revenue ($bn) | 2025 (est.) | $23.0 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $20.2 |
| 2023 | $18.6 |
| 2022 | $18.0 |
| 2021 | $17.2 |
Public Companies Associated With the NFL
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| DIS | Disney |
| NKE | Nike |
| PEP | Pepsi |
| MSFT | Microsoft |
Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS)
Disney is a global multimedia and broadcasting juggernaut that owns not one, not two, but three NFL broadcasting channels.
The NFL has exclusive broadcasting rights with ESPN, ABC, and Fox Sports, all of which are Disney-owned entities. The company secured the lucrative Monday Night Football on ESPN by paying $2.7 billion per season.
That’s a significant amount of money being spent. The entire NFL broadcasting deal is valued at $100 billion, so if you want to invest in the NFL, consider investing in its TV rights.
Moreover, ESPN is one of the most popular platforms for fantasy football leagues. The brand is the U.S. sports leader and remains synonymous with the NFL.
Can I buy stock in the NFL? Unfortunately, no. But who knew trading Disney would be a piece of the NFL pie? And you can trade options if you can buy Disney shares at a cheaper price than buying them outright.
Nike (NYSE: NKE)
Nike produces jerseys and cleats for nearly every NFL player. Merchandise sales are shared equally among the teams, regardless of the number of jerseys they sell.
Whether it is the Dallas Cowboys or the Jacksonville Jaguars, every team receives the same split from the NFL. The company that makes all of that gear? Nike. Not only is Nike a great investment as it is, but anytime you watch a game on TV, tens of thousands of fans are wearing jerseys. All of that is profit for Nike. So, while there’s no NFL stock, Nike is a great pick.
PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP)
The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in American sports. It’s also a global event that’s broadcast to over 130 countries worldwide. PepsiCo is the official sponsor of the Super Bowl and the lucrative Halftime Show every year.
PepsiCo also owns Gatorade, which is the official drink of the NFL and is seen on and around each NFL team’s sideline. The Gatorade tub dumped on the winning coach is a football tradition, so it’s easy to see why PepsiCo is ingrained into the NFL culture. It also happens to be one of the league’s biggest sponsors!
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
It’s not surprising that we get some big tech companies on this list. I could have chosen Amazon since the company recently became the official broadcaster of Thursday Night Football each week. Microsoft provides the coaching staff of each team with Surface tablets to watch video replays on.
The partnership between Microsoft and the NFL also enables the Xbox video game console to release exclusive NFL content not available on the PlayStation. During the pandemic, the NFL used Microsoft Teams to allow fans to watch and ‘attend’ games remotely.
Gambling and NFL Stock
DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG)
If there is any market that could eventually take down TV rights, it’s sports betting. The global sports betting market was estimated to be worth over $200 billion in 2020. By 2025, the U.S. legal sports betting market is expected to be worth over $40 billion.
DraftKings is the official sports betting partner of the NFL, as well as the largest Daily Fantasy Sports site in the world. Some watch the NFL for fantasy purposes, while others bet on it. The group that is doing neither is shrinking each year. So, you may not be able to buy NFL stock, but you can still make money.
Bullish Bears Fantasy Stock Draft
I have already discussed how popular fantasy football has become during the NFL season. We here at the Bullish Bears love the NFL as much as we love a great earnings report. So, to prepare for the upcoming season, I am creating a fun fantasy stock lineup with some of our favorite stocks. Without further ado, the 2021 Bullish Bears Fantasy Stock team!
Starting at Quarterback is Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL)
I could have chosen Apple here, but Google is fast, has great vision, and excels at finding things. These are all key elements to being a successful quarterback. The Android platform works with all different brands, just as a quarterback should be flexible and work with all different types of plays. We should all feel good about slotting in Google as the leader of our team!
Starting at Running Back is Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)
Just as with your top running backs in fantasy football, Tesla has the highest potential ceiling and the lowest potential floor. With our fantasy running back, we want a player that can hit top speed, requires little maintenance, and is sleek when leaving others in its dust. Investing in Tesla will require a significant upfront capital investment, just like drafting a first-round bell-cow back.
Starting at Wide Receiver is Costco (NASDAQ: COST)
With your top wide receiver in fantasy football, you want a player as steady as they come. They should be reliable with a high floor and a chance for a higher ceiling. To me, Costco is one of the safest stocks on the market and even pays a nice dividend. You can take risks or take the steady riser that is the foundation of your portfolio or fantasy team.
FLEX Positions
Starting at Tight End is Palantir (NYSE: PLTR): Why Palantir? Because, like tight ends, a lot of people don’t know what they do. Okay, that was a joke, but Palantir is slowly becoming a powerhouse stock that many growth investors like for its prospects. But, like tight ends, Palantir is not yet as prolific or valuable as a running back or wide receiver.
Starting at the Flex position is NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), which is quickly becoming one of the most versatile chipmakers in the world. The company builds CPUs and GPUs for computers, gaming consoles, electric vehicles, data centers, and cryptocurrency miners. In your flex spot, you want to play a player who can do a little bit of everything, just like NVIDIA.
Well, that was fun! Are we happy with the Bullish Bears fantasy stock team? These five stocks would make a solid foundation for any diversified portfolio. As with fantasy football, anything can happen on the markets, but this is about how well a stock draft can go!
Final Thoughts on NFL Stock
Can I buy NFL stock? No. But there isn’t another sports league like it in the world. Of course, you can argue that the English Premier League and other European soccer leagues are more of a global sport. However, when it comes to professional sports, there is something about the Big Five North American sports leagues that dominate global headlines.
Is it because there are only 17 games in an NFL season? Is it because nearly every franchise has a rich history? Or is it because football is a sport that is the heart and soul of America? Perhaps all of the above. The NFL is the King of sports and makes nearly as much annual revenue as the NBA, NHL, and MLB combined, with only a fraction of the games. Even though there is no NFL stock, there are several sports-related companies that traders can invest in.
Frequently Asked Questions
The NFL is a trade association comprising 32 teams. Each team has its own ownership and members.
The NFL doesn't have a stock to buy; however, investors can purchase (NASDAQ: $DKNG), Walt Disney (NYSE: $DIS), and Nike (NYSE: $NKE).
NFL football teams are not publicly traded and don't have shares of stock to purchase. They are each privately owned.
