Pre-Market Earnings Report for September 17, 2025 : GIS, MANU

General Mills (GIS) and Manchester United (MANU) are slated to report earnings on September 17, 2025; GIS is projected to post Q1 2026 EPS of $0.81, a 24.30% year-over-year decline, while MANU is forecast for a Q4 2025 EPS of $-0.06, a 70.00% improvement. Both firms have consistently surpassed consensus estimates in the past year, with GIS trading at a 2026 P/E of 13.43 (vs. industry 17.10) and MANU at a 2025 P/E of -42.37 (vs. industry -17.50).

Analysis

General Mills (GIS) and Manchester United (MANU) are heading into their upcoming earnings reports with divergent fundamental narratives. For GIS, the consensus earnings per share (EPS) forecast of $0.81 represents a significant 24.30% year-over-year decline, signaling potential headwinds in the consumer foods sector. However, this is counterbalanced by a consistent track record of beating analyst expectations over the past four quarters and a favorable valuation, with its forward 2026 Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.43 trading at a notable discount to the industry average of 17.10. In contrast, MANU is projected to report a loss of $0.06 per share, but this figure marks a substantial 70.00% improvement from the prior year, suggesting a positive operational trajectory. While MANU also has a history of consistently beating consensus, including a very large 87.88% surprise in one quarter, its valuation indicates underlying weakness. The company's 2025 P/E ratio of -42.37 is significantly more negative than the leisure industry's average of -17.50, pointing to deeper profitability challenges relative to its peers despite the positive year-over-year momentum.

Key Decisions for Investors

• For GIS, investors should weigh the stock's discounted P/E ratio against the material risk of a 24.30% YoY earnings decline, while noting the company's consistent history of outperforming low expectations.
• For MANU, the primary consideration is whether the 70% YoY improvement in EPS signals a sustainable turnaround, as its deeply negative P/E of -42.37 flags significant fundamental risk compared to the industry.
• Given both companies have consistently beaten earnings estimates over the past year, traders could consider positioning for potential upside surprises, particularly for MANU, which has shown a capacity for very large beats.