You’re looking for the Under Armour ticker symbol, but it isn’t just one simple set of letters like AAPL or GOOG. It’s actually kind of a mess if you aren’t used to dual-class stock structures. If you pull up your brokerage app right now, you’re going to see UA and UAA staring back at you.
Which one do you buy? Are they the same thing? Honestly, it depends on whether you care about having a say in how the company is run or if you just want to ride the price action of a brand that basically invented the moisture-wicking category.
Kevin Plank, the guy who started the whole thing in his grandmother's basement back in 1996, set it up this way for a reason. He wanted the money from public investors without actually giving up the steering wheel. That’s why we have this weird split today.
The Tale of Two Tickers: UA vs. UAA
The primary ticker symbol for Under Armour is UAA, which represents the Class A common stock. This is what most institutional investors and index funds track. Then you have UA, which is the Class C stock.
Here is the kicker: Class A shares (UAA) come with one vote per share. Class C shares (UA) come with zero votes. None. You’re essentially a silent partner.
You might wonder why anyone would buy the one without voting rights. Usually, UA trades at a slight discount to UAA. If you’re a retail investor with fifty shares, your "vote" doesn't really move the needle anyway during a board meeting. Some people prefer the "cheaper" entry point of UA because both stocks represent the same underlying business performance. If the company sells a billion dollars worth of Curry 12 sneakers, both tickers generally move in the same direction.
But wait, it gets even more complicated. There is a "Class B" stock, but you can’t buy it. Kevin Plank owns all of it. Those shares carry 10 votes each. This is how he maintains roughly 65% of the voting power despite owning a much smaller fraction of the total equity. It’s a classic founder-control move, similar to what you see at Meta or Alphabet.
Why the Symbol Changed in the First Place
Under Armour didn't always have this confusing alphabet soup. Back in the day, the ticker was just UA.
In 2016, the company underwent a stock split that was essentially a cleverly disguised way for Plank to sell some of his ownership without losing control. They issued the non-voting Class C shares to everyone who owned Class A shares.
For a while, the voting shares were "UA" and the non-voting were "UA.C." Then, in 2016, they shuffled the deck. The voting shares became UAA and the non-voting shares took over the old UA ticker.
It was a nightmare for casual observers. People who had "UA" on their watchlist suddenly realized they were looking at a different class of stock. It’s one of those corporate maneuvers that makes sense on a balance sheet but drives the average person crazy.
What Drives the Price of UAA?
Investing in Under Armour isn't just about knowing the ticker; it’s about understanding their "muddling through" phase. They aren't the high-flyer they were in 2014. Back then, they were the "next Nike." Today, they are fighting tooth and nail to reclaim their identity.
The stock price—whether you look at UA or UAA—is currently hypersensitive to a few specific things:
- The Return of Kevin Plank: After stepping away as CEO, Plank returned to the top spot in early 2024. The market reacted with a mix of "finally, the visionary is back" and "wait, didn't we move past this?"
- Inventory Bloat: Like many apparel companies post-pandemic, Under Armour got stuck with way too much stuff. When you see 50% off sales at the outlet malls, that’s great for your closet but terrible for the stock price.
- The North American Slump: They are doing okay internationally, but the U.S. market is tough. They’ve struggled to pivot from "performance gear" to "lifestyle fashion."
Basically, Nike owns the "athleisure" world, and Lululemon owns the high-end yoga space. Under Armour is still trying to figure out if they are a hardcore gym brand or something you wear to brunch.
The "Share Class" Arbitrage
Sometimes, the gap between UA and UAA gets weirdly wide. Historically, UAA (the voting shares) trades at a premium. Usually, it's around 10% to 15% more expensive than UA.
Smart money sometimes plays the "spread." If UA is trading 25% lower than UAA for no apparent reason, traders might buy the Class C shares expecting that gap to narrow. Since both stocks represent the same company earnings, they should theoretically move together.
But "should" is a dangerous word in the stock market.
If there is ever a rumor of a buyout—like if a massive private equity firm or a conglomerate like LVMH wanted to scoop up Under Armour—the Class A (UAA) shares would likely be much more valuable because they carry the votes needed to approve a deal. That’s why the premium exists. You’re paying for the "just in case" scenario.
Is Under Armour Actually a Value Play?
A lot of analysts look at the Under Armour ticker symbol and see a "fallen angel." The brand still has massive reach. They have Stephen Curry. They have Jordan Spieth. They have The Rock.
But the financials have been messy.
💡 You might also like: Order Fake Money Online: The Truth About Prop Cash and Legal Red Lines
They’ve been going through a massive restructuring plan. We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in charges to "fix" the brand. They are trying to cut down on the heavy discounting that killed their premium image. If you look at the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to Nike or Deckers (who own Hoka), Under Armour looks "cheap."
But cheap can stay cheap for a long time if the products don't resonate.
One thing most people miss is their focus on "Protect This House 3.0." It’s a marketing push to get back to their roots—football, training, and sweat. They realized they couldn't beat Nike at being "cool," so they are trying to be "gritty" again. Whether that translates to the UAA ticker moving up is the million-dollar question.
Common Misconceptions About the Ticker
Don't fall into the trap of thinking UA is a "preferred" stock. It isn't. In the world of finance, preferred stock is a different beast entirely, usually paying a fixed dividend and sitting higher on the priority list if the company goes bankrupt.
UA and UAA are both common equity. Neither pays a dividend right now. Under Armour hasn't paid a dividend in years, and they probably won't anytime soon because they need every cent of cash to fund their turnaround and buy back shares.
Another weird thing? Sometimes people think UAA is "Under Armour America." Nope. The extra "A" doesn't stand for anything official; it was just a way to distinguish the Class A shares from the Class C shares when they did the Great Ticker Swap of 2016.
How to Execute a Trade on Under Armour
If you’ve decided you want in, here is the practical path forward.
First, check the volume. UAA generally has higher liquidity. This means it’s easier to buy and sell large amounts without moving the price too much. If you’re just buying $500 worth, it doesn't matter. But if you’re moving $500,000, you’ll probably want UAA.
Second, look at the spread. Check the price of UA and UAA side-by-side. If UA is significantly cheaper, and you don't care about voting for board members you’ve never met, the "C" shares might give you more "bang for your buck" in terms of raw exposure to the company's recovery.
Third, keep an eye on the earnings calls. Kevin Plank is famously passionate (and sometimes blunt) during these. He often drops hints about brand direction that aren't in the press releases.
Actionable Steps for Potential Investors
If you are looking to get exposure to Under Armour, do not just market-buy the first ticker you see.
- Compare the Spread: Open a chart for both UAA and UA. If the price difference is narrow (less than 5%), UAA is generally the better buy because you get the voting rights for a negligible premium.
- Evaluate the Turnaround: Research the recent "full-year 2025 and 2026 outlook" provided in their latest SEC filings. Under Armour is currently in a "reconstitution" phase, meaning they are intentionally selling less to wholesalers (like Kohl's) to try and keep their prices higher. This means revenue might look ugly while profit margins (hopefully) improve.
- Watch the Inventory Levels: The biggest red flag for apparel stocks is rising inventory alongside falling sales. If their next quarterly report shows they are finally clearing out the old stuff without destroying their margins, that’s a massive "buy" signal for many value investors.
- Choose Your Brokerage Wisely: Some international brokers only list UAA because it’s the primary share class. If you specifically want the non-voting UA shares to save a few bucks, ensure your platform supports Class C listings.
Under Armour remains a high-beta stock. It swings wildly. It’s not a "set it and forget it" index fund play. Whether you pick the UAA or UA ticker, you’re betting on a comeback story. And in the world of sports, comebacks are never guaranteed.
Key Data Points for Reference
| Metric | Class A (UAA) | Class C (UA) |
|---|---|---|
| Voting Rights | 1 Vote Per Share | No Voting Rights |
| Market Listing | NYSE | NYSE |
| S&P 500 Status | Included in broader indices | Often excluded/tracking only |
| Founder Control | Subordinate to Class B | Subordinate to Class B |
| Typical Premium | 5% - 15% over UA | Trades at discount |
The safest bet for most people is UAA simply because it is the "standard" version of the stock used by the big players. If you ever see a massive news headline about Under Armour's stock price, it is almost certainly referring to UAA. Only go with UA if you are specifically looking to exploit a price gap or if you are on a very tight budget and want to maximize the number of shares you own for the same dollar amount.