NIKE (NYSE:NKE) Receives Buy Rating from Royal Bank Of Canada

Royal Bank Of Canada restated their buy rating on shares of NIKE (NYSE:NKE) in a report published on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Williams Trading cut their target price on NIKE from $100.00 to $80.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Berenberg Bank reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price objective on shares of NIKE in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $65.00 price target on shares of NIKE and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Oppenheimer reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of NIKE in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of NIKE in a research note on Wednesday, December 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $74.65.

NIKE Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:NKE traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $64.97. 11,239,554 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,777,450. The company has a current ratio of 2.06, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $63.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $69.06. NIKE has a 12-month low of $52.28 and a 12-month high of $82.44. The stock has a market cap of $96.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 1.28.

NIKE (NYSE:NKE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 18th. The footwear maker reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $12.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.19 billion. NIKE had a return on equity of 18.43% and a net margin of 5.43%.NIKE’s revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.78 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that NIKE will post 2.05 earnings per share for the current year.

NIKE Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a dividend of $0.41 per share. This is a boost from NIKE’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. NIKE’s dividend payout ratio is presently 96.47%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Timothy D. Cook purchased 50,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $58.97 per share, for a total transaction of $2,948,500.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 105,480 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,220,155.60. The trade was a 90.12% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Elliott Hill purchased 16,388 shares of NIKE stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $61.10 per share, with a total value of $1,001,306.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 241,587 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,760,965.70. This represents a 7.28% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders bought 91,229 shares of company stock valued at $5,452,640 over the last quarter. 0.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NIKE

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NKE. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. raised its stake in shares of NIKE by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. now owns 14,176 shares of the footwear maker’s stock worth $1,007,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC grew its holdings in NIKE by 4.2% in the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 3,441 shares of the footwear maker’s stock worth $244,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. St. Clair Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NIKE by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. St. Clair Advisors LLC now owns 15,217 shares of the footwear maker’s stock valued at $1,061,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NIKE by 10.1% during the 2nd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 1,575 shares of the footwear maker’s stock valued at $120,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of NIKE by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 52,012 shares of the footwear maker’s stock worth $3,695,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. 64.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key NIKE News

Here are the key news stories impacting NIKE this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Investors are revising expectations for NIKE’s strategic turnaround after coverage describing the company’s “Win Now” overhaul — management actions (store, inventory and go‑to‑market changes) are being framed as improving growth and margin visibility. This story supports a constructive view on execution improving near‑term results. How Nike’s “Win Now” Overhaul At NIKE (NKE) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: Distribution expansion: DoorDash’s partnership to sell footwear/apparel through ~1,000 Hibbett stores increases Nike’s omnichannel reach and could boost sales convenience and liquidate slow inventory — a tangible channel tailwind if adoption scales. DoorDash Taps 1,000 Hibbett Stores In Push For Instant Retail
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp lowered its price target (from $90 to $75) but kept an overweight rating — that reduces upside expectations versus prior targets but still signals analyst confidence in mid‑term recovery; this is a mixed catalyst for the stock. Nike price target lowered by KeyCorp
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst roundups and valuation pieces note NIKE’s premium multiple and recent trading volatility — helpful context for investors but not an immediate directional catalyst. Analysts Offer Insights on Consumer Cyclical Companies: Nike (NKE)
• Neutral Sentiment: Personal‑finance pieces showing how large a position you’d need for a target dividend (and Dogs of the Dow lists) raise investor interest in yield but don’t change NIKE’s payout profile materially. These stories can attract income‑seeking flow but are not fundamental drivers. How much to invest in Nike stock for $1,000 in annual dividends (2026)
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/coverage articles highlighting recent choppiness and a valuation premium may weigh on sentiment if results don’t accelerate, but they largely restate current market positioning. Evaluating Nike (NKE) Shares As Recent Trading Choppiness Highlights Valuation Premium
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish analysis warns NIKE has “too little room for error” — high expectations and a premium multiple mean small execution misses could pressure earnings and the stock. This type of critique can amplify selling if subsequent guidance disappoints. Nike: Too Little Room For Error
• Negative Sentiment: Opinion pieces questioning whether NIKE will regain its former outperformance highlight multi‑year investor losses and structural concerns, which may keep sentiment cautious and limit a sustained rally until clearer evidence of durable growth appears. Will Nike Stock Ever Be a Winner Again?

About NIKE

Nike, Inc (NYSE: NKE) is a global designer, marketer and distributor of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories. Founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman and renamed Nike in 1971, the company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon. Nike develops and commercializes products across performance and lifestyle categories for sports including running, basketball, soccer and training, and is known for signature technologies and design-driven product lines.

The company markets products under several primary brands, including Nike, Jordan and Converse, and sells through a combination of wholesale relationships, branded retail stores and direct-to-consumer channels such as company-operated stores and digital platforms (e.g., Nike.com and mobile apps).