Ashton Invests
Long-Term Equity Investor, Fundamental Stock Research
Nike under $40 is getting very interesting because expectations have fallen so low, often where the best risk/reward shows up. The stock closed at its lowest since 2014, about 78% below its all-time high. The turnaround is not finished: FY26 revenue was basically flat, Nike Direct is still shrinking and China remains a major problem. But wholesale revenue grew 6% for the year as Nike rebuilds retailer relationships. This is not a call on the bottom. x.comÂ
Nike looks really cheap because the market is pricing it as if the brand were permanently damaged, which seems unlikely for one of the world's strongest consumer brands. It trades at one of its lowest forward P/Es in years while revenue is expected to hold roughly steady and eventually recover. Growth, margins, product momentum and execution are real problems, which is why the opportunity exists; if the turnaround shows up in the numbers, today's valuation could look far too cheap. x.comÂ
Nike's dividend yield, now high versus its ten-year history, is the new question for investors and makes the stock very interesting at these levels. The numbers have not bottomed, guidance was atrocious and parts of the business are getting worse, offset somewhat by better US wholesale. The guidance implies Nike will use some cash to fund the dividend, but it has plenty. The stock remains too expensive on earnings and too cheap on dividend yield. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
Nike's brand concerns look priced in; stabilization, not sudden revenue acceleration, is what the speculative long needs. A few good campaigns and a return to large stores could help, though China consumers will be a drag. Short-term EPS is a poor indicator, and customers may return after trying other brands. x.com x.comÂ
Nike's fundamentals have not yet followed, and insider buying by CEO Elliott Hill and board member Tim Cook did not fix the business. Q1 revenue fell about 4% to $11.2B, with China down 26%, Nike Sportswear down low double digits and Jordan down mid-teens. Management warned China could get worse and some turnaround pain could extend into fiscal 2028. Performance grew high single digits, running double digits and North America returned to growth, so Nike is not being written off. x.comÂ
Nike's push to reposition as a premium sports brand looks like the right route to recovery, including in Greater China. New CFO Dave Denton was clearer, and Alex Arnault's board seat, Jordan's return to scarcity, elite athlete deals and less discounting support it. EPS was fairly strong and margins are improving; guidance looks set deliberately low to beat, since management says the decline largely stems from its own choices. The dividend is safe; a full turnaround may take 3-5 years. x.com … Show more
Nike's valuation pays investors to wait for a turnaround that will take longer than expected. It trades at just 16x earnings, near its lowest valuation ever, with a roughly 5% dividend yield, and would need a 127% rally to regain its 200-week moving average. Revenue is projected to fall another 4% in FY2027, but the business will grow again; the market prices it as if it were disappearing. Unlike Novo Nordisk, Nike faces no patent cliff. x.com x.comÂ
Nike is a damaged business, not just a damaged stock, so buying the dip is a mistake; a falling price only works when the business is still growing. Sportswear, just under half of revenue, is down low double digits, China is losing ground to local brands, and guided earnings don't cover the dividend this year. Insider buying hasn't helped: Tim Cook and directors bought around $59 in December 2025, Cook and the CEO near $42 in April, and shares now sit near $32. x.com x.comÂ
Nike's valuation premium has been squeezed out just as CEO Elliott Hill's turnaround shows traction. P/S near 1.3x is a decade low, P/E is about 20x, and a 3.8% yield gives downside protection; Morningstar rates it Wide Moat with fair value above $90. North American wholesale revenue rose 10%, and Foot Locker's first positive same-store sales in four years suggest the wholesale repair is working. Curbing AJ1 and Dunk supply rebuilds scarcity, and the fall Investor Day could flip expectations. … Show more
Nike looks undervalued, with turnaround potential at its highest just as fundamentals and sentiment are at their worst. The Cryptic Bottom Index is in a region that has historically aligned with some of Nike's biggest macro bottoms over the past 30+ years. Cutting prices and rebranding as a more affordable brand, along with replacing marketing leadership, would be the catalyst for a fundamental turnaround. Continued deterioration toward bankruptcy is possible but a low-probability outcome. x.com … Show more
Nike might not bottom until it cuts or eliminates its dividend, since net income is down 75% over five years and it cannot afford the payout. This could be one of the hardest turnarounds ever: it is getting clobbered on all fronts, China won't be coming back soon, products need a serious makeover and it overpays too many pro athletes. It needs to preserve cash, bring in new people and ideas, and find a way to bring excitement back to the brand. x.com x.comÂ
Nike is the best stock to buy when others are fearful. x.comÂ
