David Prince
US Equity/Options Fund Manager, Mentor at T3 Live
Nike just can't compete the way it used to: it no longer captures the market it once did, and that clearly isn't changing any time soon. The post-earnings reaction went as expected, with the stock already at its lowest since 2014 going in. x.com x.comÂ
Nike is a stagnant company losing pricing power, pointing to more tough years for shareholders. Revenue fell 4% last quarter, the only line still shrinking while gross margin expanded, inventory fell 3% and North America grew 2%, per the quoted post. 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, like other apparel makers, is uninvestable because a durable moat is near impossible in this business. Consumer preferences keep changing, requiring constant new marketing to keep people excited, and making a physical product leaves an inherently low-margin business with little long-term pricing power. A major turnaround is possible, but the business model gives no confidence in its long-term strength. x.comÂ
Nike keeps getting its lunch eaten by competitors, with no clear way to turn the ship around. It now expects fiscal 2027 revenue to decline by high single digits, per @negligible_cap. Caitlin Clark isn't the savior, and the stock isn't worth touching. x.com x.comÂ
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 is still super expensive even if it pulls a magic trick on margins, and the stock has been a buy-the-dip nightmare because the brand became uncool. It can keep existing while slowly fading, which is a terrible investment case. 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 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 destroyed its brand with its direct-to-consumer push during Covid, one of the dumbest strategic mistakes by any megacap. Pulling Nike shoes from stores let consumers try On, Asics, Hoka, New Balance and others. Nike is not dead, but it may not be able to put the genie back in the bottle. Its latest report, per @HeyAlvaAI, showed Nike Direct sales down 8%, Greater China down 22% and a forecast high-single-digit revenue decline for the year. x.comÂ