We have been waiting for an opportunity to invest in Under Armour, Inc. (UA, Financial) for a long time. Owned by many Baron Funds since the company’s IPO in 2005, the stock never quite fit our valuation parameters. With the stock pulling back significantly in the fourth quarter we finally decided to start building a position. We believe that UA is the brand of the “next” generation. The company’s innovative and technically advanced products resonate particularly well with the millennials and recent successes of the likes of Jordan Spieth and Stephen Curry, UA’s brand ambassadors, should lead to share gain opportunities for years to come. The international business is just getting off the ground in many countries and the company is rapidly building its own distribution channel in many of the key geographies. We think additional optionality exists should UA succeed in becoming a hub for health and fitness through its “Connected Fitness” initiative.
From the Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund Fourth Quarter 2015 Letter.
