Nike (NKE): analysis in plain words
Is Nike cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Nike (NKE) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in luxury and apparel. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Nike according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Nike (NKE) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $40.49 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.5x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | -4.3% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 6.7% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.6x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 4.26% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $60.1 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Nike figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any NKE figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Nike makes money
Nike sells athletic footwear, its largest category, plus apparel and equipment under the Nike and Jordan brands, along with Converse. It sells through wholesale partners and its Nike Direct channel of owned stores and digital apps. It reports North America, the largest, EMEA, Greater China, and Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Over the last 12 months, Nike brought in revenue of $45.9 billion. For every 100 it sells, Nike keeps 43.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 7.9 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 73,000 full-time employees, that is about $629,000 of revenue per employee.
Nike against its sector
To know whether a Nike figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Nike with the median of the 6 luxury and apparel companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Nike | luxury and apparel median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 19.5x | 23.7x (6) |
| Revenue growth | -4.3% | +1.6% (7) |
| Net margin | 6.7% | 8.5% (7) |
| Dividend yield | 4.26% | 1.66% (7) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.6x | 1.2x (7) |
In short, against the typical luxury and apparel company, Nike trades on a lower P/E, grows more slowly and earns a thinner margin.
The bull case for Nike
What works in favour of Nike, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- For income seekers, Nike pays a dividend yielding 4.26% at today's price, using 79% of its profit to fund it.
- Nike earns 21.6% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Its debt is low: Nike would need 0.6x its annual operating profit (EBITDA) to repay its net debt.
The main risk for Nike
Nike stock sits 41% below its 52-week high ($69.14): the market has cut its expectations, and it is worth understanding why first.
On top of that: nike sales fell 4.3% in the latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier: if the decline drags on, profit usually follows.
And, like the rest of luxury and apparel, Nike is exposed to spending by wealthier customers, especially in China and the US, cooling down.
Frequently asked questions about Nike
Is it a good time to buy Nike stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Nike, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Nike stock trades at $40.49, 41% below its 52-week high ($69.14) and 27% above its low ($31.97). Its P/E is 19.5x against a luxury and apparel median of 23.7x, and 26.0x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Nike, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Nike pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Nike pays $1.64 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 4.26%. It uses 79% of its profit to pay it. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 1.48%. The luxury and apparel median on Fintols is 1.66%.
Is Nike stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Nike trades at 19.5x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the luxury and apparel median (23.7x). Including its debt, Nike is valued at 12.2x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Nike expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Nike's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Nike with Inditex, LVMH and Hermès, which are also in luxury and apparel. As of November 4, 2026, Inditex is worth €184.0 billion and trades on a P/E of 28.0; LVMH is worth €205.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 19.0; Hermès is worth €143.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 31.9. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Nike below.
Nike competitors
- Inditex (ITX) analysis · Nike vs Inditex comparison
- LVMH (MC.PA) analysis · Nike vs LVMH comparison
- Hermès (RMS.PA) analysis · Nike vs Hermès comparison
To understand Nike better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like Nike: luxury and apparel stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full NKE analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Nike, not investment advice.